Erin M. Warnick, PhD

As a mental health services researcher, I am fascinated by program evaluation and the process of developing improved mental health services for children and adolescents, including the dissemination of evidence-based treatments. Currently, my research focuses on attrition from services and the psychosocial and clinical factors that may play a role. In particular, I am interested in understanding the role of agreement between the parent, youth, and clinician with respect to treatment aims and how that may impact engagement. In addition, I have begun to examine how families’ expectations for treatment and their perceptions related to treatment barriers may shape their overall experience. Within the Yale Child Study Center Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic for Children, we have implemented several procedures aimed at reducing attrition and increasing families’ engagement in services. Preliminary data provide initial support for the effectiveness of these procedures.

In addition, I am extremely interested in the process of using data to inform clinical practice and believe that on-going, active use of data is essential to the development of a strong program. How data are communicated and understanding varying methods of communication at the client level, the practice level, and the state level may play an important role in increasing the effectiveness of data to inform change. I am particularly interested in the role of standardized assessment as a method for triaging clients to specific treatment programs and the use of outcome assessment to guide treatment decision-making.