Free mental health toolkit to help underserved families find and use care
Official title: Co-Developing a Psychoeducational Mental Health Toolkit for Underserved Families to Navigate the Mental Health System
Funded at California State University Northridge · NIH-11115619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will create an easy-to-use English and Spanish toolkit to help underserved families understand youth mental health, reduce stigma, and find local care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | California State University Northridge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Northridge, United States) |
| Project start | September 2, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $181,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM146676-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11115619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families of children or adolescents who face barriers to mental health care—especially low-income, racial/ethnic minority, or Spanish-speaking households—are the intended users and partners for this work.
✕Less likely to help
Families who already have strong mental health literacy and easy access to specialty care may gain little from this toolkit.
What this research studies
As a parent or caregiver, you would be invited to help shape clear, practical materials about youth mental health and treatment options. The research team will work with community partners in Santa Barbara County and gather feedback through multiple rounds to make the toolkit user-friendly and culturally relevant. The toolkit will be designed for use in community-based mental health settings and available in English and Spanish. Researchers will also track how well the toolkit is used and accepted by families and local providers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the toolkit could make it easier for families to recognize mental health needs, reduce stigma, and connect more children and teens to helpful services.
How similar studies have gone: Psychoeducation has previously helped engage families in care, but co-developed, freely available toolkits specifically tailored for underserved English- and Spanish-speaking families are relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
California State University Northridge
Northridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martinez, Jonathan — California State University Northridge
- Study coordinator: Martinez, Jonathan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.