Turning Research Into Practice

Center for Behavioral Health Promotion & Applied Research Opens at UAlbany

Estela Rivero and Dolores Cimini (center) collaborate with team members from the Center for Behavioral Health Promotion & Applied Research.

ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 13, 2018) — The University's new Center for Behavioral Health opened its doors and begun its work to link behavioral health research and training with practical mental health programs for students.

The Center, which sits alongside Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services, is focused on three goals:

• Provide programs for students that address mental health and the prevention of substance abuse.
• Train allied health care professionals and students, both undergraduate and graduate, as they work towards a career in behavioral health.
• Serve as a hub for translating evidence-based research into best practices.

Under the leadership of M. Dolores Cimini, the director for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research, and Estela Rivero, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, the Center harmonizes the expertise of both Student Health Services and Counseling and Psychological Services, as well that of faculty partners. An overarching mission of the Center is to enhance the University at Albany’s comprehensive behavioral health agenda.

Clockwise from left: Estela Rivero, Dolores Cimini, and Dora (Cimini's certified guide dog and "resident dog" at the Counseling Center).

“It is our hope that the collaborations and synergy that a dedicated department that blends service, training, and research will assist in growing an exceptional prevention and health care workforce,” said Cimini. “We also believe that the Center will allow the University focus more on collaborative translational behavioral health research with college students, and, most importantly, capitalize on the talents within and outside of our setting to deliver the highest quality of care to our students and the communities in which they live.”

Some undergraduate and graduate courses, such as those that are part of the Peer Assistance and Leadership concentration within the School of Education, will be operated under the Center. Additionally, the Center will be a research home-base for doctoral interns within the University’s American Psychological Association-accredited training program in health service psychology.

“The Center for Behavioral Health Promotion and Applied Research makes an essential contribution to the health and wellbeing of our students by offering innovative programs that address mental health promotion and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug misuse/abuse,” Rivero said. “Most importantly, our applied research focus allows us to insure that we are building evidence based programs that enhance academic and personal success,” she continued.

The center will also be the home for the University’s current federal and state grants that address alcohol and other drug misuse, mental health promotion, tobacco prevention and related areas.

For more information, visit their website.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds