About
Project Focus
The Florida LEADS Project is a five-year, federally funded grant based on the Zero Suicide Model and acts as a multi-system approach, rooted in cultural competency and evidence-based research. The project aims to reduce health disparities and inequalities that affect the lives of adults, ages 25 years and older, at risk for suicide and/or experiencing behavioral health disorders, serious mental illnesses, and substance abuse addictions.
The Florida LEADS Project has seven guiding goals
Develop Partnerships
and capacity to promote and train leaders in the ZS model and revise policies, procedures, and organizational cultures.
Cultivate a Confident Workforce
with the competencies to identify, assess, manage, treat, and follow-up with adults at risk for suicide using evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.
Increase the Use of Screening
and assessments to improve identification of suicide risk and behavioral health problems.
Enhance Policies, Protocols, and Trainings
that address suicide care management from identification, to safety planning, to appropriate referrals/care linkages.
Create a Social Awareness Campaign with Target Audience
that will increase the knowledge, intentions, and utilization of services and treatment for adults at risk for suicide.
Enhance the Use of Rapid Coordinated Referrals
linkages, and follow-up care by trained mobile crisis teams.
Improve clinical, adaptive, and mental health service utilization outcomes
for adults at risk for suicide.
The Florida LEADS Project Team
Kim Gryglewicz, PhD
Principal Investigator
Marc Karver, PhD
Co-Principal Investigator
Lisa Borntrager, MSW
Project Manager
Lauren Brener, BFA
Marketing and Design Specialist
Jaclyn Carmody, MSW
Linkage Care Coordinator
Angie Whalen, LCSW
Research Associate
Sara Dennis
Evaluation Program Manager
Victoria Orr
Research Assistant
Israt Jahan
Graduate Research Assistant
To learn about the suicide prevention labs that drive the Florida LEADS Project, visit the University of Central Florida’s Center for Behavioral Health Research and Training Lab and the University of South Florida’s Alliance and Suicide Prevention Lab.