USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences

Learning never stops! Cary Hopkins Hall, MA, CAP, visiting instructor in the Department of Criminilogy, is sharing her expertise through a three-part course on the ethics of investigation and related criminal justice issues with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at USF.

Held weekly at Allegro Assisted Living at Hyde Park, the course has sparked thoughtful discussions and lively conversations among participants. OLLI provides engaging educational opportunities for adults 50+, and like all OLLI instructors, Cary volunteers her time to support lifelong learning and community engagement.

We are proud to welcome Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw to his new role as a full-time faculty member in the University of South Florida Department of Criminology beginning this fall! A two-time USF alumnus, Dr. Bercaw brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience. Throughout his career, he became known for advancing community safety initiatives, implementing data-driven crime reduction strategies and overseeing security planning for major events. Under his leadership, Tampa experienced a decline in violent crime and homicides, significantly outpacing national trends among major cities. In his faculty role as associate professor of instruction, Dr. Bercaw will help instruct and coordinate the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice program.

Read more ➡️ https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/usf-welcomes-retiring-tampa-police-chief-lee-bercaw-to-full-time-faculty.aspx

More professions. More data. More insight.

FCBHW has expanded its interactive behavioral health workforce dashboard to provide a more comprehensive picture of Florida’s behavioral health workforce.

New updates include:
✅ 20 licensed or credentialed behavioral health professions, up from 8
✅ Workforce data updated through 2026
✅ Supply and demand projections extended through 2037 for licensed behavioral health providers

The dashboard now includes certified behavioral health professionals, including recovery peer recovery specialists, behavioral health technicians, addiction professionals, as well as registered mental health interns, helping stakeholders better understand a fuller continuum of Florida’s behavioral health workforce.

Explore the data: fcbhw.org/dashboard

Expanding global learning opportunities, one virtual classroom at a time. 🌎

Dr. Khalilah Caines of the USF School of Social Work is helping students connect with peers in the Philippines through the USF World Virtual Global Exchange Academy, creating meaningful opportunities to explore social issues, community engagement and social change from a global perspective. Beginning this fall, students will collaborate across continents to build cultural awareness, empathy and the skills needed to make an impact in diverse communities.

Read more: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/how-one-usf-professor-is-expanding-social-work-education-beyond-borders.aspx

Faculty in the University of South Florida’s Department of Behavioral Health Science and Practice, School of Social Work, and the USF Institute for School-Community Partnerships in the USF College of Education have received funding from the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce to expand access to behavioral healthcare across Florida. These projects will help strengthen the behavioral health workforce and increase access to care for communities across the state. 💚🤘

Read more: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/usf-receives-funding-to-expand-access-to-behavioral-healthcare-across-florida.aspx

Project iSEBA will host a Summer Institute beginning this month through July featuring free, in-person presentations open to the public.

The presentations will focus on distance learning and technology, math and literacy instruction, and school leadership strategies to support school-aged children with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.

📆Friday, May 29, 2026, at 9am

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬
Participants will develop an understanding of evidence-based strategies for phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction.

Register: https://usf.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bwmWjMFo32l7hQy

More information about the presentations & presenter bios can be found on Project iSEBA's website https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/academics/aba/project-iseba/summer-institute.aspx

𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Email Tracy-Ann Gilbert-Smith at [email protected]

Applied Behavior Analysis at USF USF College of Behavioral & Community Sciences USF College of Education

Last Friday, a new partnership was established between and the primary federal law enforcement agency combatting human trafficking.

Federal, state, and local partners will adopt a victim response framework developed at USF’s TIP Lab, and their enhanced efforts will help strengthen victim-centered response efforts within the state.

🔗: https://bit.ly/4u5NrUV

🎓 Fully funded opportunity for graduate students & professionals!

Interested in adolescent behavioral health, implementation science, and community-based research? The Translational Research in Adolescent Behavioral Health Graduate Certificate Scholars Program is now accepting applications for the Spring 2027 cohort.

Selected scholars receive:
• Paid tuition & fees for 15 graduate credits
• Paid textbooks, conference attendance, and project expenses
• Faculty and peer mentoring
• Hands-on research experience and publication opportunities

Join an upcoming virtual Information/Q&A Session to learn more:
• June 12 | 12:30–1:30 PM EDT

Applications are due October 15, 2026!

Open to graduate students and working professionals interested in behavioral health, adolescent substance use, mental health, and related fields.

Learn more and apply:https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/itre/documents/2026-05-itre-recruit-flyer-final.pdf