USF Child & Family Studies

Congratulations to CFS staff members Jacob Miltenberger, M.Ed., PMP, and Lourdes Quinones, PT, MA, on being named recipients of the CBCS Internal Scholarship Award! 🎉

Both scholarship recipients are pursuing doctoral degrees while contributing to the department. Miltenberger is working toward a doctorate in Interdisciplinary Education, and Quiñones is pursuing a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction.

Reflecting on the impact of her studies, Quiñones shared:
“I believe that my PhD in Curriculum and Instruction will help open the way for me to continue training Florida educators in the area of autism and teacher inquiry.”

We are proud to celebrate their commitment to lifelong learning, professional excellence, and advancing education for future generations.

Read more about their journeys and the other scholarship recipients in the article: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/cbcs-invests-in-staff-through-educational-scholarships.aspx



CARD-USF USF Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program

The online Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling & Disability Sciences (RCDS) program at USF invites prospective students to attend their upcoming virtual information session.

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝐏𝐌

This session will provide an overview of:
• Program structure and learning outcomes
• Career pathways in rehabilitation counseling and disability services
• Admissions requirements and application timelines
• & more

Whether you're exploring graduate education or looking to expand your impact, we encourage you to attend and learn how the RCDS program can support your professional goals.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐑 𝐜𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/kyt7upT2vm

Visit the program's website to learn more https: https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/cfs/academics/rmhc/rcds/index.aspx

In case you missed the Implementation & Scale-Up Webinar last Thursday, no worries, the recording is now ready for viewing at your convenience in our resource library.

Check out What Makes Great Teams Work? A Conversation on Engagement and Effectiveness by visiting: https://www.challengingbehavior.org/document/what-makes-great-teams-work-a-conversation-on-engagement-and-effectiveness/

Did you know CARD-USF has LIVE programming on Facebook that covers different topics especially curated for the autism community?

This week's topic is on wondering and elopement. Join them Friday at 10:45AM

In this month’s episode of “Coffee Break with CARD”, we have the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Megan DeLeon (Miller), PhD, BCBA-D. She is the founder of the Do Better Collective , which aims to improve access to training in best practices in the field of behavior analysis. In partnership with CARD-USF, Dr. DeLeon has created FREE training modules and tools for families and behavior professionals to prevent and address wandering and elopement. We will be discussing why this behavior can be so challenging, practical and effective strategies to prevent and decrease elopement, and how caregivers and professionals can better collaborate to implement those strategies.

Join us LIVE right here on our page, this Friday, August 21, at 10:45 AM.

University of South Florida USF Child & Family Studies Graduate Students!

Want to become a stronger consultant, collaborator, and change agent?
Join MHS 6607: Behavioral Consultation & Collaborative Systems Change this Fall and build the skills needed to lead meaningful change across schools, agencies, and service systems.

Learn how to:
- Facilitate effective consultation and collaboration
- Support implementation of behavioral interventions
- Evaluate outcomes and drive continuous improvement
- Lead systems change across multi-tiered support frameworks

Fully Online | Asynchronous | 3 Graduate Credits

Perfect for graduate students in behavioral health, education, disability, ABA, leadership, consultation, and related fields.

Instructors: Dr. Heather George & Dr. Laura Rodríguez López

- Contact [email protected] for enrollment information.
- Registration ends August 21. Classes start August 24. Secure your spot now!

Shape the future of disability services, behavioral health, and inclusive systems.

Looking for a graduate course this Fall 2026 that goes beyond theory and prepares you to create real-world impact?

USF Child & Family Studies is offering three fully online, asynchronous graduate courses focused on developmental disabilities and Positive Behavior Support.

- Explore disability history, policy, and emerging issues
- Master evidence-based behavioral health practices
- Build expertise in behavioral consultation, interdisciplinary teamwork, and systems-level change

Open to graduate students in disability studies, education, behavioral health, psychology, ABA, and related fields.

For more information or to enroll, contact Dr. Laura Rodríguez López at [email protected].

Registration closes August 21. Classes start August 24. Secure your spot today!

USF's Rehabilitation Counseling and Disability Sciences (RCDS) Program is seeking an Assistant Professor of Instruction to join its online MA program.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
✔ Earned doctorate (or ABD with degree conferred before appointment) in Counselor Education and Supervision from a CACREP accredited program or a closely related field.
✔ Current Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), or licensed/eligible for LMHC licensure in Florida within one year.
✔ Must meet university criteria for appointment to the rank of instructor.

Apply online at https://bit.ly/RCDS44101 (Job ID 44101). Include a cover letter along with CV.

𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? Contact Search Committee Chair Brandon Worthey at [email protected].

𝐔𝐒𝐅 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐃𝐀 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Held July 24 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, the annual event marked 36 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act and recognized individuals and organizations that create inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities.

CARD-USF's role in the ADA Celebration highlights its ongoing commitment to inclusion and community engagement beyond the award they received.

Read more about the celebration and CARD-USF's impact >> https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/usf-center-for-autism-plays-prominent-role-in-tampa-bay-ada-celebration.aspx



Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - FCIC City of Tampa Hillsborough County, Florida Government

𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐇𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝟑𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞

Families gathered with Hillsborough HIPPY staff at USF's Marshall Student Center to celebrate the achievement and honor the program's top three readers, along with HIPPY team members who work directly with participating families.

More about the challenge and winners >> https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/news/2026/hillsborough-hippy-families-read-nearly-30000-books-in-spring-challenge.aspx

Hillsborough HIPPY Parent Involvement Project Children's Board of Hillsborough County Florida Center for Inclusive Communities - FCIC