FIU experts available to discuss mental health resources in schools

The impact of COVID-19 and the incidence of school shootings leaves students and educators in need of mental health support. FIU experts are available to discuss various aspects related to counseling, traumatic events and social work in the school setting, including addressing the shortage of school psychologists and social workers, grief counseling and overall mental health support. 

Members of FIU's Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work and College of Arts, Sciences & Education communications team are available to assist members of the media in contacting experts:

• Stephanie Rendon, 305-348-4670, srendon@fiu.edu
• Nathalie Medina, 305-348-7678, nmedina@fiu.edu

School Psychology and Social Work

Andy Pham, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology
School of Education and Human Development
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Andy V. Pham is a state and nationally certified school psychologist and director of the Educational Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology program at FIU. His expertise includes culturally responsive practices and supporting children with learning disabilities, ADHD, autism and anxiety-related disorders in schools. Pham has conducted workshops for teachers and parents on promoting children’s social skills, organizational and study skills, and social-emotional learning.

Jennifer Abeloff
Clinical Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Social Work
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Abeloff is available to discuss the impacts traumatic events can have on children and youth, and what supports are needed to help them cope. Abeloff is working to address the shortages of school psychologists and social workers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. She began her social work career working in the child welfare arena in Missouri and California, providing services to children in the foster care system in homes and residential facilities. She then became the director of intake and assessment at a psychiatric hospital and, later, the coordinator of an early periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment program in Philadelphia.

Philip J. Lazarus, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology
School of Education and Human Development
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Professor Lazarus is a national and international expert on crisis prevention and response. He is a founder of the National Association of School Psychologists National Emergency Assistance Team. As part of this team, Lazarus has responded to dozens of school shootings throughout the past two decades including Parkland. The team also responds to natural disasters and other tragedies that impact schools. Lazarus has written extensively on the area of helping children and families recover in the aftermath of these events. He has consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in their landmark study on profiling school shooters. His research areas include suicide prevention and intervention, crisis intervention, bullying prevention, school violence prevention and advocating for the emotional well-being of children and adolescents.

Christina McGrath Fair, Ph.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling, Recreation and School Psychology
School of Education and Human Development
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Christina McGrath Fair has 16 years of experience in the areas of community mental health, college counseling, residential treatment, school-based counseling, mandated clients (Substance Abuse and Sexual Offender), and private practice. She is a licensed mental health counselor, qualified supervisor and continuing education provider in Florida. McGrath Fair is active in leadership roles in the Florida Counseling Association, Counselors for Social Justice, and the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities.

Laura Dinehart, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Education and Human Development
Dinehart is available to discuss the impacts of mass shootings on education and the teaching profession. Dinehart’s research has focused on early intervention practices and developmental outcome of children prenatally exposed to cocaine from birth to three years of age. More recently, her interests lie in the contextual variables that influence the school readiness and early academic outcome of children from high-risk environments, including children in the child welfare system. She has published numerous journal articles and presented at several national conferences.

Trauma

Jonathan Comer, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry
FIU Center for Children and Families
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Professor Comer is available to discuss the impact of traumatic events on children and adolescents. He has conducted extensive research on the psychological impact of terrorism and other traumatic events or disasters on youth, including the Boston Marathon bombing and the September 11 attacks. As Director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program his research focuses on expanding the quality, scope and accessibility of mental health care for youth. Much of his work examines children’s media-based exposure to traumatic events and how caregivers can best discuss frightening world events with their children.

Nicole M. Fava, Ph.D., MSW
Assistant Professor of Social Work
FIU Center for Children and Families
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work
Professor Fava can address childhood adversity and trauma-informed care. Her research bridges the child maltreatment, trauma and sexuality fields from a developmental, trauma-informed, resilience-based framework via participant-centered and community-based research. Her work focuses on understanding multilevel factors impacting healthy development in order to inform effective interventions. Fava is available for phone interviews.

Maureen C. Kenny, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
School of Integrated Science and Humanity
College of Arts, Sciences & Education
Maureen C. Kenny is trained as a clinical psychologist and spent the early part of her career working with abused children and their families. As part of a research team that examined the effects maltreatment and abuse had on children, she also worked to help these children heal from these traumatic experiences. Over time, she became involved in prevention efforts, first in the area of abuse reporting. Her efforts were spent educating mandated reporters of child abuse to identify, recognize and report abusive situations early so that intervention could be sought for the child, and healing could begin. Her research focuses on marginalized populations, including ethnic minority youth, LGBTQ+ youth and victims of trauma.