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South Central MIRECC Communique Newsletter

SC MIRECC Communique Newsletter - Fall 2021, Volume 23, Issue 4

In This Issue

Drs. Jessica Meers, Maribel Plasencia, and Marcela (Marci) Weber

Meet the New SC MIRECC Fellows

Our new Fellows have arrived! This month we welcome Drs. Jessica Meers, Maribel Plasencia, and Marcela (Marci) Weber to our Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. The Fellows tell us about their educational backgrounds, research interests, mentors, and more.

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Dr. Claire Houtsma

SC MIRECC Affiliate Profile: Claire Houtsma, PhD

Meet Dr. Claire Houtsma, an SC MIRECC affiliate and Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System. Dr. Houtsma tells us about her research, including her new Career Development Award, career goals, mentors, and more in this interview.

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SC MIRECC’s New Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement

We are placing greater emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) by publicizing a formal statement of our values and actions.

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Targeted Request for Pilot Study Applications Addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and/or Community Engagement

Under this new request for applications (RFA), we will prioritize pilot studies that address inequities in healthcare, engage diverse groups of Veterans, or Increase engagement with community partners. This targeted request supplements but does not replace the existing RFA for SC MIRECC pilot studies. Only doctoral-level researchers in VISN 16 and San Antonio are eligible to apply. Applications will be accepted and reviewed using SC MIRECC’s standard pilot award program procedures. The next deadline to submit a standard or targeted pilot study application is January 3.

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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Calendar of Events October-December 2021

Read this quarter's diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) calendar of events for VA-recognized holidays and months.

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Highlights from Our Anchor Sites

Our affiliates in Houston, Little Rock, New Orleans, and VISN 17 work hard to promote mental health education, research, and treatment locally and nationally. Here are some highlights of their accomplishments over the past three months.

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New Resources for Education on Moral Injury and Providing Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Check out Moral Injury Psychoeducation Group, a four-week, time-limited psychoeducational “standalone” group that can be offered either virtually or in person to provide information about moral injury. The MyBriefCBT program improves access and delivery of evidence-based psychotherapies (EBP) in clinical settings that demand rapid or time-limited interventions.

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Publication Highlights

Check out recent publications from our affiliates on topics that include implementation science, peer coaching, food insecurity, and more.

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Research Methods and Analysis Consultation Services Available for VISN 16 and San Antonio Investigators

Our MIRECC Implementation, Design and Analysis Support (MIDAS) program offers centralized design, methodologic and analytic support to VISN 16 researchers and those located in San Antonio, Texas (VISN 17) who are seeking intramural or extramural funding or conducting pilot projects. The MIDAS team is experienced in biostatistics, epidemiology, demography, psychometrics, qualitative methods, application of technology to research and education, and project implementation.

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About Us

The mission of the South Central MIRECC is to promote equity in engagement, access, and quality of mental health care for Veterans facing barriers to care, especially rural Veterans. The South Central MIRECC strives to promote and celebrate a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion among our staff, across our sites, and in the work we do to improve mental health care for rural and other underserved Veterans. The Communiqué is published quarterly by the SC MIRECC Education Core. Contact us at VISN16SCMIRECCEducation@va.gov.

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