Research in the Program on Care Needs and Services for Older Adults focuses on enhancing the health and well-being of older adults, their families, and their caregivers by examining, developing, and evaluating care and services. Contact: Sheryl Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Faculty-led research in the Program on Evidence-Building in Child Welfare focuses on issues that affect children’s well-being such as poverty, abuse and neglect, foster care, adoption, child protective services, and services designed to protect children and encourage family stability. Contact: Mark Testa, Ph.D.
Researchers exploring Family Relationships and Interpersonal Violence aim to promote positive family relationships in the changing landscape and complexity of family structures. Contact: Rebecca Macy, Ph.D.
From postpartum care to substance-use disorders, research conducted by faculty in the Program on Health and Behavioral Health centers on improving the understanding of psychosocial factors that affect physical, emotional, and behavioral health-related conditions, and how to address them. Contact: Sarah Verbiest, Dr.P.H., and Lisa Zerden, Ph.D.
Research in the Program on Human Services Outcomes and Response to Human Trafficking aims to improve the effectiveness of human services to ensure optimal outcomes for children, youth, and adults. Contact: Dean Duncan, Ph.D.
Researchers working in the Program on Services and Interventions for Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness consider the complexity of factors that affect the health and mental health of individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses, especially those who become involved in the criminal justice system and/or who have chronic physical health problems. Contact: Gary Cuddeback, Ph.D.
Faculty in the Program on Social Research Methods and Data Analytics are leading the social work profession in developing and implementing new, advanced statistical methods to harness the power of burgeoning data. Contact: Din Chen, Ph.D.
Through research and scholarship, faculty in the Program on Well-Being and Service Delivery to Marginalized Populations promote the well-being of vulnerable individuals, groups, and populations pushed to society’s periphery by discrimination, prejudice, bias, or systemic racism. Contact: Mimi Chapman, Ph.D.
The mission of GSDI is to create innovative interventions, build knowledge, produce evidence, and, in collaboration with local stakeholders, shape policy toward the well-being of marginalized populations globally. Key efforts address economic security, workforce development, financial inclusion, social protection, health, and education. Contact: Gina Chowa, Ph.D.
JIF is engaged in a variety of research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance projects. These projects address problems that threaten to undermine some families (such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, school failure, and substance abuse) as well as challenges that confront most families (such as providing for aging family members, or the safe care for children). Contact: Sarah Verbiest, Dr.P.H. Based on the passage above, Can you tell me more about the research conducted by the Program on Health and Behavioral Health and how it aims to improve understanding and treatment of psychosocial factors affecting physical, emotional, and behavioral health-related conditions?
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Yes, certainly! The Program on Health and Behavioral Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill aims to improve the understanding of psychosocial factors that affect physical, emotional, and behavioral health-related conditions among individuals and populations. Faculty members in this program explore topics such as mental health and well-being, substance-use disorders, parenting and family relationships, preventive healthcare, and chronic diseases. The program's research often has a focus on at-risk populations, including older adults, children and families, and those with disabilities.

Through their work, the researchers in this program seek to develop evidence-based interventions and policy recommendations aimed at promoting health, preventing disease, and improving overall quality of life for individuals and communities affected by mental health and substance misuse disorders. Some specific examples of their work include:

- Examining the impact of social support networks on mental health outcomes for cancer patients and caregivers.
- Conducting qualitative research to better understand the experiences of homeless individuals with serious mental illness and the barriers they encounter when accessing healthcare services.
- Investigating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy as a treatment for substance abuse disorders in adolescents and young adults.
- Identifying viable approaches to integrating primary care and behavioral health services in low-income, rural areas.

The program also offers training and technical assistance to promote the implementation of evidence-based models of care in various practice settings, including community health centers, addiction treatment settings, and palliative care programs.
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Research in the Program on Care Needs and Services for Older Adults focuses on enhancing the health and well-being of older adults, their families, and their caregivers by examining, developing, and evaluating care and services. Contact: Sheryl Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Faculty-led research in the Program on Evidence-Building in Child Welfare focuses on issues that affect children’s well-being such as poverty, abuse and neglect, foster care, adoption, child protective services, and services designed to protect children and encourage family stability. Contact: Mark Testa, Ph.D.
Researchers exploring Family Relationships and Interpersonal Violence aim to promote positive family relationships in the changing landscape and complexity of family structures. Contact: Rebecca Macy, Ph.D.
From postpartum care to substance-use disorders, research conducted by faculty in the Program on Health and Behavioral Health centers on improving the understanding of psychosocial factors that affect physical, emotional, and behavioral health-related conditions, and how to address them. Contact: Sarah Verbiest, Dr.P.H., and Lisa Zerden, Ph.D.
Research in the Program on Human Services Outcomes and Response to Human Trafficking aims to improve the effectiveness of human services to ensure optimal outcomes for children, youth, and adults. Contact: Dean Duncan, Ph.D.
Researchers working in the Program on Services and Interventions for Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness consider the complexity of factors that affect the health and mental health of individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses, especially those who become involved in the criminal justice system and/or who have chronic physical health problems. Contact: Gary Cuddeback, Ph.D.
Faculty in the Program on Social Research Methods and Data Analytics are leading the social work profession in developing and implementing new, advanced statistical methods to harness the power of burgeoning data. Contact: Din Chen, Ph.D.
Through research and scholarship, faculty in the Program on Well-Being and Service Delivery to Marginalized Populations promote the well-being of vulnerable individuals, groups, and populations pushed to society’s periphery by discrimination, prejudice, bias, or systemic racism. Contact: Mimi Chapman, Ph.D.
The mission of GSDI is to create innovative interventions, build knowledge, produce evidence, and, in collaboration with local stakeholders, shape policy toward the well-being of marginalized populations globally. Key efforts address economic security, workforce development, financial inclusion, social protection, health, and education. Contact: Gina Chowa, Ph.D.
JIF is engaged in a variety of research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance projects. These projects address problems that threaten to undermine some families (such as poverty, abuse, mental illness, school failure, and substance abuse) as well as challenges that confront most families (such as providing for aging family members, or the safe care for children). Contact: Sarah Verbiest, Dr.P.H. Based on the passage above, Can you tell me more about the research conducted by the Program on Health and Behavioral Health and how it aims to improve understanding and treatment of psychosocial factors affecting physical, emotional, and behavioral health-related conditions?
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Absolutely! The Program on Health and Behavioral Health at the UNC School of Social Work focuses on research that seeks to better understand the psychosocial factors that influence physical, emotional, and behavioral health conditions. By examining these factors, the program aims to develop and enhance interventions and treatments that effectively address these conditions. 
The program's research covers a range of topics, including postpartum care, substance use disorders, chronic illness management, and mental health promotion. Faculty members leading the program, Dr. Sarah Verbiest and Dr. Lisa Zerden, have extensive experience in conducting research in these areas. 
One example of the program's research is a study that explored the impact of a mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of individuals living with chronic pain. The study found that participants who received the intervention reported significant reductions in pain, depression, and anxiety compared to a control group. 
Another study conducted by the program examined the effectiveness of a peer support intervention for individuals with serious mental illness. The study found that participants who received peer support experienced significant improvements in their quality of life, social support, and self-management skills. 
Overall, the Program on Health and Behavioral Health aims to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities by conducting rigorous research and developing evidence-based interventions that address the psychosocial factors that contribute to physical, emotional, and behavioral health conditions.
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