2025 Bennett Lecture in Prevention Science

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"School-based Prevention of Behavioral and Mental Health Problems"

Dr. Bradshaw’s talk will review some of the current strategies for integrating evidence-based programming in schools to reduce behavioral and mental health problems in children and youth in K-12 settings. Models, such as multi-tiered systems of support and social emotional learning will be featured, along with approaches for optimizing implementation fidelity and scaling to reach rural communities. There will also be particular attention to teacher and contextual factors, and issues related to cost, burden, and equity.

This year, we are pleased to honor Catherine P. Bradshaw with the Bennett Lectureship in Prevention Science.

Dr. Bradshaw has led more than ten federally-funded randomized trials of school-based prevention programs, including studies of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and social-emotional learning curricula. She has expertise in implementation science and the scale-up of evidence-based programs at the district and state level. She works with the Maryland State Department of Education and several other states and districts to support the development and implementation of programs and policies to foster safe and supportive learning environments. She has received over $50M in research grants as a PI or Co-PI from agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences, NIH, CDC, and NIJ. She is the co-director of the $10M IES-funded National Center for Rural School Mental Health.

This is the 24th Annual Bennett Lecture in Prevention Science. The lectureship is made possible through the generosity of Edna Bennett Pierce, 1953 Penn State graduate in Home Economics, who established an endowment in 1999, which also provides a comprehensive portfolio of enhancements to the Center.