Center for Ethnic Psychological Research and Application
The mission of the Center for Ethnic Psychological Research and Application (CEPRA), part of the Department of Psychology in FAMU’s College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, is to promote mental wellness, enhance mental health literacy, and improve overall behavioral/mental health for all individuals with special emphasis on African American and other underserved populations.
The Center for Ethnic Psychological Research and Application (CEPRA) was established in 2014 in order to be a major resource at the local, state and national levels in research, training, education, and application on issues involving behavioral/mental health, particularly of African Americans and other marginalized populations.
We accomplish our mission through the following components and activities.
The Mission and Purpose
Our mission is to generate evidence-based solutions that can be applied in the lives of marginalized populations, particularly African Americans, that will
Professional Focus: The research component has a professional focus with emphasis on research productivity, collaboration, and information dissemination.
Community Focus: The education component has a community focus to expand the knowledge of the general public in regards to behavioral/mental health issues and mental health literacy.
Student Focus: The training component has a student focus; developing research skills and effective interventions with African American and other minorities.
Cepra and Partners
" Don't ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own."
CEPRA
Research: A professional focus with an emphasis on research productivity, collaboration, grantsmanship and information dissemination
Education: A community focus to expand the knowledge of the general public in regards to behavioral/mental health issues and mental health literacy
Training: A student focus to develop student researchers and nurture effective change agents in addressing the needs of African Americans and other minorities
Each of our activities addresses one or more of the components that make up our work.
In terms of research, we identify studies relevant to a multicultural focus and create a literature database to inform manuscript development and grant writing, engage in research to better understand behavioral/mental health issues, particularly among ethnic minorities and underserved populations, and establish grant initiatives to support research related to behavioral and mental health.
Our research has played out in terms of our community education. One of our activities is to establish a website reflecting current information on multicultural research and training in behavioral/mental health. This site includes a user- and community-friendly section that provides up-to-date information to the general public on behavioral/mental health issues.
We establish community-based participatory research initiatives to better understand and address mental health needs of underserved populations. Alongside that activity, we serve as a major resource and location for behavioral/mental health literacy education training for the general public, with special emphasis on improving knowledge of behavioral/mental health issues, recognizing behavioral/mental health symptoms, promoting early intervention and enhancing help-seeking behaviors.
Finally, we provide support and training in the development of undergraduate and graduate student researchers. As part of this activity, we offer specialized training on research methods and protocols in behavioral/mental health when working with African Americans and other underserved populations, and we establish culturally sensitive intervention protocols that can be tested and used in the community.
Mental Health First Aid
We offer Mental Health First Aid (youth and adult) training to the community. Find out why it matters and how you can sign up.
Contact Info
501 Orr Dr.
Gore Education Complex-B
Tallahassee, FL 32307
850-599-3014
850-412-7667 (fax)
If you need a specific contact, browse a list of Center for Ethnic Psychological Research and Application personnel.<Academics > Colleges & Schools > College of Social Sciences, Arts, & Humanities > Department of Psychology > Center for Ethnic Psychological Research and Application > Personnel>