News

CDC awards $6M grant to VCU to address youth violence in Richmond and beyond

CDC awards $6M grant to VCU to address youth violence in Richmond and beyond

September 29, 2021

The grant is one of only five awarded nationally and designates VCU as one of the CDC’s Youth Violence Prevention Centers.

NIH awards $2M to study VCU program focused on reducing youth violence amid surge in gun injuries and death

NIH awards $2M to study VCU program focused on reducing youth violence amid surge in gun injuries and death

September 23, 2021

The program, Bridging the Gap, provides violently injured patients with a brief hospital-based intervention that aims to prevent retaliatory violence.

How virtual reality may help explore the role of fear in youth at risk for violence and crime

How virtual reality may help explore the role of fear in youth at risk for violence and crime

July 1, 2021

A VCU professor has received a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to study conduct disorder and callous-unemotional traits using VR technology.

$2M grant to support programs for elementary school students at risk of social, behavioral, and emotional problems

$2M grant to support programs for elementary school students at risk of social, behavioral, and emotional problems

May 28, 2021

The award from the Institute of Education Sciences, will be co-led by researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Minnesota.

VCU professor to explore ‘emotional code switching’ among African American youth

VCU professor to explore ‘emotional code switching’ among African American youth

May 5, 2021

Psychology professor Fantasy Lozada received an NSF CAREER award to study emotion regulatory flexibility among African American youth, which helps them to protect against racism.

CDC funds 10 projects — including 3 with VCU connections — that seek to prevent gun violence

CDC funds 10 projects — including 3 with VCU connections — that seek to prevent gun violence

October 14, 2020

To find ways to address gun violence, the CDC recently awarded 10 grants that seek to investigate how to prevent firearm-related violence and injuries. Three of the grants have connections to VCU.

Researchers receive $3.1M grant to investigate the sustainment of mental health programs in schools

Researchers receive $3.1M grant to investigate the sustainment of mental health programs in schools

July 8, 2020

A grant from the National Institute of Mental Health will enable VCU researchers to study whether evidence-based mental health programs in schools continue after research support is removed.

Jason Chow awarded prestigious early career research grant from the Institute of Education Sciences

Jason Chow awarded prestigious early career research grant from the Institute of Education Sciences

January 11, 2019

Jason Chow, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Counseling and Special Education in the School of Education and Co-Director of the Cognition and Learning Lab, received one of three Early Career research grants from the Institute of Education Sciences awarded in August 2018. The study, funded by the National Center for Special Education Research, will examine the co-development of language skills and classroom behavior problems in young children.

“We know a lot about the co-occurrence of school-based language and behavior problems, but what we’re hoping to do with this project is identify how language, communication skills, classroom engagement, and disruptive behavior co-develop during the early years of formal schooling.”

NIH awards a grant to study the impact of human-animal interaction on the development of children exposed to adverse family environments

NIH awards a grant to study the impact of human-animal interaction on the development of children exposed to adverse family environments

October 10, 2018

To better understand how child-pet interactions influence child health and well-being in the context of adverse family environments, Shelby E. McDonald, Ph.D., an affiliate faculty member in the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, has received a $427,067 grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in the National Institutes of Health.

For children with ADHD, a brief, school-based program can help dramatically with homework problems, study finds

For children with ADHD, a brief, school-based program can help dramatically with homework problems, study finds

December 5, 2017

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who took part in a brief, school-based program displayed significant improvements in their homework, organization and planning skills.

National Institute of Justice publishes profile of Clark-Hill teen dating violence research

National Institute of Justice publishes profile of Clark-Hill teen dating violence research

August 28, 2017

The National Institute of Justice has published a profile of a teen dating violence grant Elizabeth Goncy, Ph.D., former postdoc at the Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, received while she was at VCU. 

Student team wins grant for Building Legacies Around Cultural Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) project

Student team wins grant for Building Legacies Around Cultural Knowledge (B.L.A.C.K.) project

August 15, 2017

Through weekly presentations and dialogue with individuals at a community center in the southside of the city, B.L.A.C.K. hopes to provide a vehicle to healing and positive development.

Boushall Middle School after-school youth leadership group holds fundraiser

Boushall Middle School after-school youth leadership group holds fundraiser

June 13, 2017

The Boushall Middle School after-school youth leadership group held a fundraiser that resulted in a $530.70 donation to the Children's Hospital Foundation.

Corona recognized for excellence in community-engaged research

Corona recognized for excellence in community-engaged research

May 22, 2017

The VCU Department of Psychology recognized Rosalie Corona, Ph.D., at its annual student and faculty awards ceremony with an inaugural award for community-engaged research.

New $6 million grant aims to advance youth violence prevention strategies in Richmond

New $6 million grant aims to advance youth violence prevention strategies in Richmond

October 6, 2016

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently awarded the VCU Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development a nearly $6 million research grant to promote healthy communities and reduce violence rates in Richmond. The grant resulted from a strong collaboration between community partners and the university. The co-principal investigators on the grant are Drs. Saba Masho and Terri Sullivan.

Al Farrell promoted to Commonwealth Professor

Al Farrell promoted to Commonwealth Professor

October 1, 2016

“Receiving this recognition from the university means a great deal to me,” Farrell said. “I joined the VCU faculty as a new assistant professor in 1980. My career has been largely shaped by the unique opportunities provided by VCU, my faculty colleagues, and the Richmond community. They share much of the responsibility for any success I have achieved."

Terri Sullivan receives $2.6 million grant to study anti-bullying program

Terri Sullivan receives $2.6 million grant to study anti-bullying program

October 22, 2014

Terri Sullivan, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Sciences, received the grant from the National Institute of Justice to evaluate the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, a school-based program that aims to prevent youth violence and bullying in middle schools across the country.

McLeod and Sutherland receive $1.6 million grant to improve programs for preschoolers with behavior problems

McLeod and Sutherland receive $1.6 million grant to improve programs for preschoolers with behavior problems

September 11, 2014

"The grant's objective is to improve the early intervention and prevention services for young children who have chronic problem behavior by improving the implementation and efficiency of delivery of evidence-based programs."

What best predicts violence in Richmond neighborhoods? Negligent landlords.

What best predicts violence in Richmond neighborhoods? Negligent landlords.

September 13, 2022

A study by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found that the tax delinquency of company-owned properties was the only variable that predicted violence in all but four of the city’s 148 neighborhoods.

Albert Farrell, mentor, researcher and founder of VCU’s Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, retires after 43 years

Albert Farrell, mentor, researcher and founder of VCU’s Clark-Hill Institute for Positive Youth Development, retires after 43 years

June 8, 2023

Psychology professor has spent decades supporting Richmond and the study of youth violence prevention.

A surprise retirement celebration for Dr. Al Farrell

A surprise retirement celebration for Dr. Al Farrell

June 1, 2023

Former graduate students organized a surprise dinner to celebrate Dr. Farrell's retirement.