BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER OF THE SOUTHWEST

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER OF THE SOUTHWEST THE FOCUS OF BHRCS WILL SHIFT, WHILE REMAINING CONSISTENT WITH THE PREVIOUS VISION OF OUR AGENCY: (THE LEADING CENTER THAT CULTIVATES DISCOVERY, COLLABORATION, AND INFORMED POLICY IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN PURSUIT OF OUR DREAM OF A HEALTHY SOCIETY.) OVER THE YEARS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1997, THE MAJOR FOCUS OF BHRCS HAS BEEN TO CONDUCT "RESEARCH ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES." WE HAVE LEARNED MUCH AND IT IS NOW THE TIME TO EXPAND OUR SCOPE TOWARDS IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS BASED ON CURRENT KNOWLEDGE IN PREVENTION SCIENCE. BHRCS WILL SEEK TO REDUCE SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND IMPROVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH BY FOSTERING POSITIVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNITY PROJECTS THAT ORIGINATE IN THE MINDS OF YOUTH. THESE PROJECTS MAY INVOLVE COMMUNITY ACTION, (SUCH AS AREA CLEAN-UPS, PLANTING COMMUNITY GARDENS, OR FINDING ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS THAT USE FEWER RESOURCES) OR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMANCE ARTS (SUCH AS PLAYS OR OTHER FORMS OF ART, OR ART PROJECTS