Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research Collaborative Opportunities Program
The Center for Multicultural Mental Health Research, Cambridge Health Alliance, sponsors the Collaborative Opportunities Program for qualified pre- and post-doctoral candidates. Through this program, the Center provides resources and collaborative research opportunities for individuals interested in multicultural mental health research. Appointments are awarded for either Research Fellow or Scientific Associate with the CMMHR, depending upon background and experience. During the award period, resources are provided to facilitate the individualīs research goals. These resources include consultation with Center staff and opportunities to utilize data sets stored in house. Computer resources and work space are also provided. The appointee is responsible for conducting his/her own data analyses. This award does not include an academic appointment. The research fellowship is available to M.D. or doctoral degree students; qualified pre-doctoral candidates will also be considered. Candidates should possess a demonstrated ability designing and implementing independent research projects, with the goal of generating grant proposals and publications.

UPR/CHA Research Center of Excellence
The UPR/CHA Research Center of Excellence -fosters the development of the academic careers of researchers concerned with health and mental health disparities in Latino and African Caribbean communities. The Center recruits, trains and develops a cadre of Latino and African Caribbean investigators conducting studies that address service delivery issues and analyzing interventions designed to increase access to care, thereby reducing health and mental health disparities among minority populations. This goal is accomplished through a closely mentored and didactic research training and support program designed for junior faculty members, post-doctoral students, graduate students, pediatric and psychiatric residents and fellows, and clinical and research fellows.

The NCMHD funded Research Center of Excellence provides research and training opportunities to junior researchers stemming from existing training activities of the CMMHR and the UPR/CHA EXPORT Center. In addition, junior investigators participating in the Advanced Center for Mental Health Disparities also have the opportunity to participate in these activities. Trainees have opportunities to:

1. Conduct secondary analyses of existing data sets that focus on health disparities.
2. Build specific skills via professional development workshops, conferences, and a didactic training program.
3. Attend a one-week winter institute that focuses on research methods.
4. Participate in grant writing workshops and seminars.
5. Pursue publication and presentation opportunities
6. Attend research seminars and meetings.

CMMHR has sponsored a number of training opportunities over the last couple of years through these grant mechanisms:

2004

• Introduction to Causal Inference-Observational Data and Experimental Designs with Dr. Sharon-Lise Normand, December 2004
• Methodological Considerations in Longitudinal Data with Dr. Linda Collins, December 2004
• Analyzing Qualitative Data with Dr. Norma Ware, December 2004
• Introduction to Grant Writing with Dr. Glorisa Canino and Dr. Margarita Alegria,December 2004
• Statistical Models for Health Care Surveillance and Public Reporting with Dr. Sharon-Lise Normand-May 2004
• Measuring Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care with Dr. Tom McGuire-March, 2004

For more information please see http://www.uprchaexport.org/.

2007 - Advanced Center

• Drs. Willging and Guarnacia led a special training session on qualitative methods in research, to inform current and future work by the group, October 2007
• Junior Investigators participated in one-day training with Jennifer Patashnick, an expert in NVivo qualitative coding analysis, who provided an in-depth understanding of how the software can best be used for qualitative analysis, October 2007

2008 - Export II

• CHA mentees met with Thomas McGuire and devised a professional development plan, mapped out training activities for next year and developed ideas for future papers and grant proposals, January and February 2008
• All CHA trainees attended training meeting in Puerto Rico, and several presented on their work related to their projects and RCE CHA projects

CMMHR's Training Core Faculty:
Margarita Alegria, Ph.D.
Ben Cook, Ph.D.
Glorisa Canino, Ph.D.
Julia Lin, Ph.D.
Richard G. Frank, Ph.D.
Thomas McGuire, Ph.D.
Sharon Lise Normand, Ph.D.
Rafael Ramirez, Ph.D.