By participating in a research study, you can help us establish effective treatments and help us learn about the causes and nature of childhood mental health problems.
You may also, depending on the study, receive significant reduction in treatment costs or receive treatment free of charge.
All of our research studies are completely voluntary; you may opt out at any time without penalty.
- Seeking infants 12-18 months-old
The PANTHERS Project is a remote home-based research project providing support to families with an infant at risk for behavior problems. Our goal is to provide families with strategies and knowledge about early childhood behavior and development. You might be eligible if your child is between 12 months to 18 months, you speak either English or Spanish, and you have concerns about your child’s behavior. To confirm your eligibility into the study, please call us at 305-520-9713 to complete a screening evaluation. Visit our PANTHERS Project/Proyecto PANTERAS page for additional information.
- Seeking Spanish-speaking moms of infants ages 8 to 20 months
Do you speak Spanish? Do you have a baby between 18 and 20 months old? Would you like to earn $200 for using a new app that can help increase your baby's vocabulary?
If you meet the above requirements, you may qualify to participate in a research study at Florida International University (FIU).
- The study consists of two 30-60 minute sessions, with the use of the app for 2 months.
- Both sessions are virtual.
- You will attend Zoom meetings with your baby.
- A researcher will accompany you in the sessions.
You'll receive $100 cash for participating at both the start and the end of the study. Will send cash through zelle, venmo or cashapp. The information collected in this study will be kept confidential and secure.
If you are interested and would like more information, email Maria Camila Restrepo at mrest029@fiu.edu to coordinate a phone appointment and determine if you qualify for the study. Read the recruitment flyer for the Spanish version. - Individual Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Free evidence-based treatment program where youth (ages 3-17) learn healthy ways of coping with their feelings, while caregivers learn stress management, parenting and behavior management skills, and communication skills. As a result, caregivers are better able to manage their own emotional distress and support their child more effectively. Read the TF-CBT flyer, Call 305-348-5885 or email tfcbt@fiu.edu for more information.
- Seeking kindergartners who are young for the grade
The focus of the study is to learn how to support children who enter kindergarten and are the youngest in the grade (those born in the months immediately preceding the school entry cut-off). as they are at risk for such outcomes as grade retention, referral to special education, and being diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
There is no fee for participating in this study. Read the flyer here for more information. If you have any questions or if you would like to have a meeting to further discuss the project, please feel free to contact Dr. Greg Fabiano, Professor Clinical Psychology at FIU and Principal Investigator of the study at gfabiano@fiu.edu, 716-359-7823.
La información sobre el estudio está disponible en español aquí.
- Children invited to participate in a zoom study (4 and 5-year-olds)
FIU Department of Psychology is looking for children who are 4 years of age (between 46 months and 50 months of age) and 5 years of age (between 58 months and 62 months of age) for an Attention and Learning in Early Childhood (ALEC) study. This study is conducted over zoom across two sessions.Each session will last approximately 1 hour and will be scheduled one week apart. Children will watch short videos, complete a naming game and some shape and memory games, and play with their caregiver in a 10-minute play session. Families will receive a $20 target gift card after the first session and a $30 target gift card after the second session. If interested, read the study flyer, fill out the screening form: https://go.fiu.edu/alec, call: 305-348-9055 or email: alec@fiu.edu.
- Seeking children who have never been diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder (ages 4-6)
The Department of Psychology at FIU is currently conducting a study on the brain and spatial abilities in young children (ages 4-6) who've never been diagnosed with a mental or behavioral disorder. Participants will spend about 30 minutes to an hour completing an MRI brain scan and an hour completing learning and spatial memory tasks. Families will receive a $150 for their child's participation in the study. Interested families: read the Project Seahorse flyer, complete the screener, call 305-348-9055 or email plsd@fiu.edu.
- Seeking children with behaviors consistent with ADHD that are currently in grades 1-5 for a Summer study
Children who participate in the Summer Treatment Program will have the unique opportunity to take part in a research study which will provide individual information on the effectiveness of the most commonly referred interventions for ADHD. The interventions that will be assessed include positive behavior supports, medication, and academic accommodations in the classroom. You can also download the flyer here.
- Seeking children entering grades 1 - 5 for the Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 school year
The Adaptive Supports Provided in Regular Education Settings (ASPIRES) Program is a research program for elementary-aged students who could benefit from extra help with concentration, staying on-task, and following directions in the classroom. There is no fee for participating in this study. All progress monitoring reports and treatments are provided as part of the study. Visit the ASPIRES Program page learn more.
- Seeking children from Latin American, Hispanic or Brazilian Ancestry ages 7-89
Join the FIU Mint Program’s “Latino OCD Study” and help us advance Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research to create a better future for Latinos. We are looking for participants ages 7-89 who have or have had in the past any symptoms of OCD (no diagnosis needed) and have Latin American, Hispanic or Brazilian ancestry.
Our study goals include:
- Collaborate with 15 countries to diversify Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) research
- Identify genetic factors of OCD
- Improve future OCD research
- Seeking families of children 8-10 years old for a research study about social changes and brain development (CASPER)
Your child’s brain activity will be measured during computer and social tasks. You and your child will complete surveys regarding thoughts and feelings. For completing the 3-hour study protocol, you will receive $100 in compensation, plus $20 for travel expenses. For more details, read the study flyer.
Buscamos familias de niños entre 8-10 años de edad para un estudio sobre cambios sociales y desarrollo cerebral. La actividad cerebral de su niño/a será medida durante actividades sociales y computarizadas. Usted y su niño/a completarán encuestas acerca de pensamientos y emociones. Por completar el protocolo de 3 horas del estudio, recibirá $100 en compensación, además de $20 por gastos de viaje. Para más detalles, lea el folleto del estudio.
- Novel treatment to help your child (10 to 14 ) overcome social anxiety
Does your 10- to 14-year-old get nervous or scared in social situations (school, restaurants, social gatherings)? He or she may qualify to participate in a research study to reduce their social anxiety. If eligible, your child will be randomly assigned to one of two interactive computer programs. Eligible participants will complete eight 15-minute sessions during a four-week period. Families will be compensated $600 for completing four study assessments. Services are offered in both English and Spanish. There is no waiting period to participate in this treatment study. Read the CAPP study flyer, email capp@fiu.edu or call 305-348-1937 to learn more.
- Seeking children ages 10-14 for a study about emotions and attention to faces
We are studying how children, ages 10-14 with and without anxiety pay attention to pictures of faces. Attention to faces influence our feelings and behaviors in situations that involve other people. If eligible, your child will complete computer tasks while we measure their attention. You and your child will also respond to surveys. Families will be compensated $350 for completing four study assessments. The study is offered in both English and Spanish. There is no waiting period to participate in this study. Read the study flyer, email capp@fiu.edu or call 305-348-4254 to learn more.
La información sobre el estudio está disponible en español aquí.
- Novel Study to Understand how Sleep, Emotions, and Memory are Associated with Anxiety and Worry
The EMU study looks at the role of sleep in processing emotional memories among children ages 10-13 who have worry or anxiety. We hope that by studying the impact of sleep on emotional memories, we can learn more about child anxiety. Participating children do not need to have a problem with sleep to participate. All participants will be compensated $400 for completing the study.
Read the flyer or visit our website to learn more.
To contact the EMU Study, you can fill out our contact form, call (305) 348-5384, send a text message to (305) 209-0136, or send an email to EMU-STUDY@FIU.EDU.
- Seeking families of children and teens 10-13 years old for a research study about social changes and brain development (THRIVE)
Your child’s brain activity will be measured during computer and social tasks. You and your child will complete surveys regarding thoughts and feelings. For completing the six study visits, you will receive $600 in compensation, plus $60 for travel expenses. For more details, visit the study website.
Buscamos familias de niños y adolescents entre 10-13 años de edad para un estudio sobre cambios sociales y desarrollo cerebral. La actividad cerebral de su niño/a será medida durante actividades sociales y computarizadas. Usted y su niño/a completarán encuestas acerca de pensamientos y emociones. Por completar las 6 visitas del estudio, recibirá $600 en compensación, además de $60 por gastos de viaje. Para más detalles, visita el sitio web del estudio.
- Seeking caregivers/parents of Latino/Hispanics youth ages (9-15)PARENT ZOOM GROUPS or INTERVIEWS - $30 hour
- Are you the caregiver/parent of a Latino/Hispanic (pre)teen (9-15)?
- Are you interested in participating in research (doctoral dissertation study)?
- Groups/Interviews provided in Spanish & English
If you answered yes, you may qualify to participate in a focus group or a cognitive interview (complete a survey and complete an interview about the survey) which will help to develop a questionnaire specifically designed to look at temperament (general reactions and control of these reactions) among Latino/Hispanic youth in the U.S. Participation is completely voluntary.
Groups: One, 2-hour Zoom group; ~4 caregivers/parents; paid $60; groups available Sunday-Wednesday in July
Interviews: One, 90-minute Zoom appointment; paid $45; interviews available Sunday-Wednesday in October & November
To learn more or sign up click on this flyer.