More than 30 years ago, the University of Connecticut (UConn) School of Social Work (SSW) and the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) formed the DMHAS Research Division (RD), a unique state agency-academic partnership. The Research Division, led by Research Director Eleni Rodis, currently includes 24 research faculty members, professional staff, and students.
The RD provides comprehensive research and evaluation support to DMHAS, including program evaluations, cost effectiveness studies, large administrative database merges and analyses, fidelity monitoring, implementation research, randomized clinical trials, and training in clinical and organizational interventions. The division has become a nationally recognized leader among state mental health and substance abuse agencies in services and applied research. The Research Division’s $7.5M active award portfolio, representing 10 awards, is supported by grant and contract funds from DMHAS and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), along with support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and various state departments.
Current Initiatives and Crisis Response
The RD operates multiple evaluation projects addressing behavioral health crises. A $175K award evaluates The Gloria House at New Life II, a voluntary, short-term emergency room alternative peer respite site run and staffed by those with lived experience providing community-based, non-clinical support. A second $482K award partners Continuum of Care and the Connecticut Mental Health Center on REST (Rapid Evaluation, Stabilization, and Treatment), staffed full-time with a multi-disciplinary team of recovery support specialists with lived experience to reduce substance use and mental health crises.
Another initiative partners with the United Way of Connecticut on a $1M grant to evaluate the state’s participation in the national 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connects callers via phone, text, and online chat with crisis specialists who can refer them to local resources. The evaluation tracks required response standards, examines trends over time, and identifies communities with lower awareness of the service to guide targeted outreach.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://today.uconn.edu/2025/09/ssw-research-faculty-support-mental-health-addiction-services-statewide/