Biography     

James Winarski, M.S.W. joined the faculty in the Department of Mental Health Law & Policy at the University of South Florida in February 2004.  He provides technical assistance and training in the areas of assessment, development, and implementation of behavioral health programs, with a special focus on recovery oriented services for persons with serious mental illnesses and services for persons who are homeless.  Mr. Winarski has been working in coordination with state and local authorities to transform Florida’s mental health system to a recovery/resiliency orientation.  He recently completed a study under contract to Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration entitled “Recovery Oriented Medicaid Services for Adults with Severe Mental Illness”.

Mr. Winarski co-authored the Report to Congress on the Prevention and Treatment of Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders and Mental Disorders for the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  He also completed a training package entitled Implementing Interventions for Homeless Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders that was published by SAMHSA.  Mr. Winarski has specialized knowledge and skills in the areas of program development/systems improvement, rehabilitation/recovery technologies, outreach, case management, homelessness, co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, and in developing intervention strategies for difficult to reach populations.  He received his M.S.W. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1980.

Recent Publications

Winarski, J, Thomas, G, and Hendry, P, and Robinson, P. (2008). Self-Assessment/Planning Tool for Implementing Recovery-Oriented Mental Health Services. Tampa, FL: Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute. University of South Florida.

Winarski, J., Thomas, G., DeLuca, N. (2007).  Recovery oriented medicaid services for adults with severe mental illness - part ii. Tampa, FL:  Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.  University of South Florida.

Winarski, J., Thomas, G., Dhont, K., & Ort, R. (2006).  Recovery oriented medicaid services for adults with severe mental illness. Tampa, FL:  Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute.  University of South Florida.

Winarski, J.T., Outreach. In Levinson, D., (Ed.) (2004) Encyclopedia of Homelessness. Sage Publication, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, pg. 431-433.

Winarski, J.T., Cohen, M., et. al., (1998).  Issues affecting clinical practice in an era of managed behavioral health care. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. (Vol. 85) 1: 101-113.

Winarski, J.T.,(1998). Implementing Interventions for Homeless Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: A PATH Technical Assistance Package, Sudbury, MA: Advocates for Human Potential under contract with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services.  (Monograph SMA 98-3204: 92 pages).

Winarski, J.T. and Dubus, P. (1996). An Analysis of 16 Federally-Funded Programs for Homeless Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, Newton, MA: The Better Homes Fund under contract with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  (Monograph 137 pages).

Winarski, J.T. Providing outreach outside the shelter.  In Bassuk, E., Birk, A., and Liftik, J., (Eds.) (1994). Community Care for Homeless Clients with Mental Illness, Substance Abuse, and Dual Diagnosis, Newton, MA: The Better Homes Fund, 1994, 10-1, 10-18.

Shern, D.L., Tsemberis, S., Winarski, J., et al. (1997). The effectiveness of psychiatric rehabilitation of persons who are street dwelling with serious disability related to mental illness.  In Breakey, W.R. and Thompson, J.W., (Eds.) Mentally Ill and Homeless: Special Programs for Special Needs, Harwood Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, pg. 119-147.