We are excited to announce the launch of the School of Behavioral Health (SBH) Practice, Research, and Clinical Training Innovation Center (PRACTIC). The SBH PRACTIC was developed as a collaborative center for our School to bridge clinical training and education with research. The result of this enhancement is designed to further promote the innovation, efficacy, and efficiency of behavioral health practice within our School and also support these same outcomes for Loma Linda University Health (LLUH), as well as our work in surrounding communities and globally.
The SBH PRACTIC represents all of the professions within SBH, including those in the Departments of Counseling and Family Sciences, Psychology, and Social Work and Social Ecology, as well as our Division of Interdisciplinary Studies. As such, the SBH PRACTIC will strive to:
- advance the frontiers of knowledge, bringing together diverse expertise to drive breakthroughs in behavioral health;
- integrate research findings into evidence-based clinical practices, empowering our institution to provide exceptional care;
- be a beacon of excellence in education, equipping future leaders with the skills and knowledge to shape the future of behavioral health; and
- transform lives and contribute to the greater well-being of the individuals and communities served by Loma Linda University.
There are two divisions that support the SBH PRACTIC. The first is the Research and Community Training Division that oversees the development and implementation of research and community education for SBH. Here administrative and practical support is provided for new investigators, as well as support for external funding applications and operations, the vetting of SBH seed funds, and the review and support for innovative intervention research development and dissemination. This Division includes a new biomarker lab that expands our opportunities to develop evidence-based interventions.
Within the Research and Community Training Division is a subdivision known as Translational Research Across Childhood (TRAC). TRAC is supported by a consortium of externally-funded research projects across SBH (e.g., NIMH; NIH; NSF; HRSA; Organization for Autism Research). TRAC projects may be conducted in collaboration with other LLU Schools (e.g., LLUH Pediatric Neurology); partner health providers (e.g., SACHS Pediatric Primary Care Clinic); San Bernardino City Unified School District; state-based organizations (e.g., First Responders Resiliency Inc.), and/or faculty from other universities (e.g., Claremont McKenna; University of Oregon). The projects associated with TRAC also work in collaboration with each other in support of further innovation opportunities.
Next is our Resiliency Clinic, an academic training clinic supported by our SBH master’s and doctoral student clinicians to provide clinical therapy and assessment services that support LLU and our surrounding communities. Reimbursement for services provided by the Resiliency Clinic are through contracts and a sliding scale fee structure. Services provided by the Resiliency Clinic continue to expand to further support the advanced clinical training opportunities of our students and service to our community.
An open house for the SBH PRACTIC will occur during the 2024-25 academic year. Stay tuned!
—Written by Dr. Beverly Buckles, Dean