Institute for Behavioral Health

Aiming to increase recognition of the way behaviors impact health, and to work with systems and organizations to design processes and approaches that improve the overall health of the population.

Knowledge Advancing Social Justice

Welcome to the Institute for Behavioral Health

Since the Heller School began, both faculty and students have studied mental and substance use disorders. Formalized in 2003, IBH focuses on the intersection of health, behavior, and systems of care, with an emphasis on their linkages. Its underlying premise is that these systems can be better used to promote healthier lifestyles and assist individuals to engage in behaviors which lead to better health.

Our focus is broadening to include other issues that are affected by behaviors which can be targeted by interventions and have an impact on health and wellness. In addition to studying systems of care, we investigate health outcomes that are associated with behaviors, and also develop and test methods to evaluate the effects of behaviors on health.

We consider a variety of systems of care, including health care delivery, as well as criminal justice, education, social services, housing, military and the workplace.

We hope that you find this site useful as you learn more about our research staff and our activities in behavioral health.

Constance M. Horgan, ScD, Director

Look for us at upcoming conferences

42nd Annual Research Society on Alcoholism Scientific Meeting

June 22-26, 2019
Minneapolis, Minn.

Addiction Health Services Research (AHSR)

October 16-19, 2019
Park City, Utah

American Public Health Association (APHA)

November 2-6, 2019
Philadelphia, PA

IBH Activities

2019 Junior Investigator of the Year Award

Wednesday, April 3, 2019. Dean Weil presents Rachel Adams with the Heller Junior Investigator of the Year Award. Nominated by faculty and staff at the Heller School, the award is in recognition of the great strides Rachel has made in developing her research career. She has excelled in her own right at as a Principal Investigator and author, building a network of colleagues within the Department of Defense and other research institutions in the areas of military health, opioid policy research , traumatic stress syndrome, women in the military, and traumatic brain injury. Congratulations!

2019 Bob Ray Partnership Award

Margot Davis, Ph.D., was chosen for the award because of her lifetime commitment to developing and measuring interventions to better serve impoverished and marginalized communities. She has researched addiction policy, the impact of faith-based programs, and more recently, the effectiveness of a rapid re-housing program for homeless young adults. Presenting the award is Joe Finn, President and Executive Director of Mass Housing and Shelter Alliance.

Person+Killian Photography

Award from NIDILRR

Sharon Reif, PhD'02, PI, has received a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) to study opioid use disorder (OUD) among people with disabilities in the United States. The project combines expertise from two of Heller’s research institutes: IBH and the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy.