Dr. Jeremy W. Pettit
Executive DirectorDr. Pettit is a licensed psychologist and researcher who has worked at FIU since 2009.Driven by a desire to improve mental health and well-being in young people, Dr. Pettit specializes in understanding and treating anxiety, depression, and related emotional difficulties.He has developed and evaluated treatments for these conditions while working with families in the Center for Children and Families, resulting in clinical guidelines for assessing and treating suicidal behaviors in youth, a guide to help teens overcome suicidal thoughts, and best practices for treating anxiety disorders in Hispanic/Latino children.Dr. Katie Hart
DirectorDr. Hart is a licensed psychologist, researcher, and professor who has worked at FIU since 2010.Her community-engaged research seeks to find innovative and sustainable ways to promote school readiness in young children with early learning and behavioral concerns, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all children and their families have a strong foundation for later school success and mental health well-being.Through her work at the Center for Children and Families, she and her team, along with highly-valued and respected school and community partners, have developed and evaluated a number of early intervention programs to support these efforts, bolster positive early childhood experiences, and increase access to quality, evidence-based care.
Our Founding Director, William E. Pelham, Jr.
Dr. Pelham's vision for the CCF was both simple and monumental: to champion the cause of children's mental health through research, clinical care, and education. Under his leadership from 2010-2023, the CCF evolved into what is now—a world class clinical research center considered one of the largest in the state conducting research on child mental health. The impact of Dr. Pelham's nearly 50-year career is immeasurable, but the results can be found among children all over Miami-Dade County and around the world. The training, mentoring and research to which he dedicated his life will continue to make a difference for children today and for many generations to come.
