THEME: "Frontiers in Mental Health and Psychiatry Research"
University of South Florida, United States
Treating Trauma: Analysis of Florida’s Implementation of Evidence-Based Clinical Interventions for Child Welfare Involved Families
Dr. Vargo is a Research Assistant Professor at USF’s Department of Child and Family Studies, with 24 years of experience in evaluating child welfare and behavioral health services. She currently leads the evaluation of the FFPSA initiative for the Florida Department for Children and Families and the C.A.R.E.S. Model Program, while also serving as a Co-Investigator for SAMHSA’s Project Aware TISS initiative. Her extensive work includes co-leading evaluations for federal programs such as the National Institute of Justice’s STOP Program, the National Child Welfare Leadership Institute, and the Western and Pacific Child Welfare Implementation Center. Her research primarily aims to improve care for vulnerable children and families within the child welfare system, focusing on the implementation and fidelity of evidence-based practices to enhance service outcomes. Her career is dedicated to bridging research and practice to better support at-risk populations.