Biography     

Colleen Clark is a Research Assistant Professor, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Dr. Clark’s research, clinical, and administrative professional life has focused on improving the lives of people with serious mental illnesses by working with community partners. She has been the principal investigator on numerous national initiatives to address problems affecting their lives including homelessness, co-occurring disorders such as alcoholism, homeless families, gender differences, the effects of violence/ trauma/ abuse, and parenting. Recent projects include: partnering with community agencies to develop and evaluate a homelessness program for people with co-occurring disorders, a program for pregnant and post partum women with substance use disorders; a program to promote healthy parenting partnerships, with agencies in Polk, Highlands, and Hardee Counties developing and evaluating services for women with histories of abuse and co-occurring disorders and their children; and with the VA on evaluating residential treatment for homeless veteran’s. She has worked with community providers to develop two interventions one for adult women with histories of abuse and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders – the Triad Women’s Group – and one for adolescent girls with substance abuse, emotional, and abuse issues – the Triad Girls’ Group. Dr. Clark is a founding board member and coordinator of the National Trauma Consortium, leader of the USF/Community Trauma Research Group and was recently appointed the associate director of research for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs National Center for Homeless Veterans.

Recent Publications

Young, M.S., Clark, C., Moore, K.A., and Barrett, B. (in press). Comparing two service delivery models for homeless individuals with complex behavioral health needs: Preliminary data from two SAMHSA Treatment for Homeless studies. Journal of Dual Diagnosis.

Clark, C. & Young, M.S. (in press). Outcomes of mandated treatment for women with histories of abuse and co-occurring disorders. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. Available online 27 April 2009. http://www.journalofsubstanceabusetreatment.com/inpress

Clark, C., Young, M.S., Jackson, E.W., Graeber, C., Mazelis, R., Kammerer, N., & Huntington, N. (2008).  Consumer Perceptions of Integrated Trauma-Informed Services Among Women with Co-Occurring Disorders.  The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 35(1), 71-90

Weissbecker, I. & Clark, C. (2007).The impact of violence and abuse: Can trauma-informed treatment make a difference? Journal of Community Psychology.

Gatz, M., Russell, L., Grady, J., Kram-Fernandez, D. Clark, C. & Marshall, B. (2005) Women’s recollections of victimization, psychological problems, and substance use. Journal of Community Psychology, 33 (4), 479 – 493.

McHugo, G., Caspi, Y. ,Kammerer, N., Mazelis, R., Jackson, E., Russell, L., Clark, C., Liebschutz, J., Kimerling, R. (2005). The assessment of trauma history in women with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and a history of interpersonal violence. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 32(2), 113-127.

Rich, A. R., & Clark, C. (2005). Gender differences in response to homelessness services. Evaluation and Program Planning, 28 (1), 69-81.

Clark, C., Becker, M., Giard, J., Mazelis, R., Savage, A. & Vogel, W. (2005). The role of coercion in the treatment of women with co-occurring disorders and histories of abuse. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 32(2), 167-181.

Clark, C. & Rich, A. (2005). The relationship between alcohol misuse and homelessness. In V. R. Preedy & R. R. Watson (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of alcohol related pathology: Volume 1 (pp. 221-239). London: Elsevier Ltd.

Clark, C., Becker, M., Giard, J., Mazelis, R., Savage, A. & Vogel, W. (2005). The role of coercion in the treatment of women with co-occurring disorders and histories of abuse. Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 32(2), 167-181.

Rich, A. R., & Clark, C. (2005). Gender differences in response to homelessness services. Evaluation and Program Planning, 28 (1), 69-81.

Veysey, B. & Clark, C. (Eds.) (2004). Responding to Physical and Sexual Abuse in Women with Alcohol and Other Drug and Mental Disorders: Program Building. [Special issue]. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. Volume 22, Issues 3 & 4, 2004. Co-published as book of the same title: New York, NY: The Haworth Press, Inc.

Clark, C., Giard, J., Fleisher-Bond, M., Slavin, S., Becker, M., & Cox, A. (2004). Creating alcohol and other drug, trauma, and mental health services for women in rural Florida: The Triad Women's Project. In B. Veysey. & C. Clark (Eds.) Responding to Physical and Sexual Abuse in Women with Alcohol and Other Drug and Mental Disorders: Program Building. [Special issue]. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly. Volume 22, Issue 3.

Clark, C. & Rich, A. (2003). Outcomes of homeless adults with mental illness in comprehensive housing program and in case management only. Psychiatric Services, 54, 78 - 83.