Elizabeth Connors, PhD

Dr. Connors received her Ph.D. in Clinical Child and Community Psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Psychology) and in the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, and directs the School Mental Health Implementation Consultation and Research at The Consultation Center at Yale. Dr. Connors and her team apply participatory research methods and principles of implementation science to improve the quality of mental health services for underserved and minoritized children, adolescents and their families in critical access points such as schools, community clinics and primary care settings. Dr. Connors' research program includes developing and testing a culturally-modified version of measurement-based care for racial and ethnic minoritized youth with depression and a multi-level implementation strategy called FOCUSS to increase the use of measurement-based care among school mental health clinicians. Her other projects include strategic implementation of other evidence-based, school-wide approaches to promote student social and emotional wellbeing and resilience to adversity, stress and trauma. Dr. Connors has expertise with numerous implementation strategies including learning collaboratives, training/technical assistance and ongoing consultation for clinicians, organizations and state agency leaders within education, health and mental health sectors. Dr. Connors is also a core faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Medicine where she collaborates with the National Center for School Mental Health to advance research, practice, policy and training about comprehensive school mental health system quality and sustainability nationwide.