We connect researchers across the University of South Carolina to advance research and practices that enhance the behavioral health of students across the state.
The USC Center for School Behavioral Health fosters innovation, collaboration, and increased productivity by supporting and connecting the expertise of more than 20 faculty leaders across the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences (Department of Psychology), College of Social Work, College of Education, and the Arnold School of Public Health.
While children and adolescents experience significant behavioral health challenges, our research and partnerships help schools and other youth-serving organizations meet their needs.
The center will advance interconnected research focused on enhancing behavioral health in communities and schools, grades pre-K through 12. These efforts will support interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate education, research opportunities, and experiential learning.
Discover our pilot grant program, which provides initial funding for research programs that can attract larger grants.
The center builds partnerships between education, mental health, and other youth serving systems (such as child welfare, juvenile justice, primary care/hospitals) to scale evidence-based practices, and support all populations of students and families, including under-served youth and those experiencing challenging circumstances. The center will serve as a hub for innovation and collaboration, leveraging the expertise of its diverse faculty and comprehensive projects already in place to improve school behavioral health.
The center will transform interconnected school behavioral health research into practice and policy, providing our partners with ongoing technical assistance and coaching as they improve behavioral health services in their schools and communities. Our interdisciplinary approach will help break down silos to improve communication and adoption of evidence-based practices that support student wellbeing.
Meet our Faculty Pilot Grant Overview