Centers and Institutes

As a part of its mission, the College of Education and Human Sciences supports numerous centers and institutes.

CENTERS

CENTER FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall (FGH) Room 201
601.266.4588

The Center for Behavioral Health offers a wide range of services for children, adolescents and adults who are community members and USM students, faculty and staff. Services include individual, child, family, couples and group therapy; comprehensive diagnostic evaluations and assessments; and consultations in various areas, including school and Head Start consultations, parent training and select pre-employment screenings and evaluations. Clinic staff adhere to evidenced-based treatments and utilize a variety of techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Behavioral Interventions and more.

CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT

3400 Morningside Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
601.266.5294

The Department of Child and Family Sciences operates The Center for Child Development to serve as laboratory and field placement sites for students enrolled in child development laboratory and practicum courses.  The center models exemplary child centered and developmentally effective educational programs that promote evidence-based practice and a joyful, lifelong love of learning. We hold a five-star quality rating through the Mississippi Child Care Quality Rating System. This represents the highest rating that can be earned, and the Center is one of only eight childcare facilities to hold this designation of out approximately 1500 centers in the state. 

CENTER FOR FAMILY THERAPY

Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall, 2nd Floor (Please come up the elevator)
129 Golden Eagle Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401
601.266.5475 | mftcenterFREEMississippi

The Center for Family Therapy is a training and research clinical site for the marriage and family therapy graduate program. The clinic provides assistance to individuals, couples, and families experiencing a wide range of personal and/or relationship difficulties.

CENTER FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESEARCH AND TRAINING (CHRT)

The Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training is part of the USM School of Social Work. CHRT is an interdisciplinary collaboration of researchers, trafficking survivors and students who participate in the collection, analysis and evaluation of human trafficking data from Mississippi’s state and local agencies. For more information, contact Dr. Kimberly Hogan at k.hoganFREEMississippi.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT

Owings-McQuagge Hall (OMH) Room 122
601.266.4621

Supported by the Dean’s office and the Vice-President for Research, the Center’s function is to provide help and support to dissertation students and their dissertation chairs in all aspects of the dissertation process including but not limited to delineating research questions and objectives, research design, methodology, data analysis, and other areas relevant to the dissertation. The Center is open Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. Appointments should be made with Dr. Peter Paprzycki at peter.paprzyckiFREEMississippi or 601-266-4621.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH TO PRACTICE IN EDUCATION (CRPE)

The mission of the Center for Research to Practice in Education is to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based practices in PK-21 educational systems. CRPE works with education professionals, students and families to promote high-quality experiences and positive post-school outcomes for all learners in Mississippi, including those with disabilities. For more information, contact Dr. Hollie Filce at hollie.filceFREEMississippi, crpeFREEMississippi or 601-266-4691.

THE FRANCES A. KARNES CENTER FOR GIFTED STUDIES

Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall (FGH) 112
601.266.5236

The Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies is dedicated to serving gifted and talented students and their parents, as well as teachers, administrators, counselors, school psychologists, and other professionals.  The Center serves an average of 450 P-12 students annually in the Career Explorations for Girls Conference, Saturday Gifted Studies Program, Leadership Studies Program, Summer Gifted Studies Program, and the Summer Program for Academically Talented Youth. The Center celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2014.

SOUTHERN REGIONAL EDUCATION SERVICE AGENCY

Owings-McQuagge Hall (OMH)
601.266.6777

S-RESA's purpose is to improve the educational opportunities of the school children of Mississippi by making connections between and among educators, school districts, schools, The University of Southern Mississippi, junior and community colleges, the Mississippi Department of Education, professional organizations, and other Regional Educational Service Agencies. Through participation in the legislative activities of the Association of Educational Service Agencies, S-RESA is an advocate for education at the national level.

INSTITUTES

INSTITUTE OF CHILD NUTRITION, APPLIED RESEARCH DIVISION

Fritzsche-Gibbs Hall (FGH) 2nd Floor
601.266.6970

The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs. The Institute was established by Congress in the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 1989. The ICN, Applied Research Division (ARD) located at The University of Southern Mississippi supports ICN's mission by systematically conducting research and development projects that influence child nutrition operational practices. These projects increase knowledge, provide research-based resources, and determine best practices for issues affecting the operation and improvement of child nutrition projects. ARD's primary research threads include operational accountability, customer service, best practices, human resources, wellness, equipment purchasing and facility design, and program evaluation. ARD research results are used to develop resources and training to promote excellence in Child Nutrition Programs.

MISSISSIPPI PERSON CENTERED PRACTICES INSTITUTE

The Mississippi Person Centered Practices Institute (MS-PCPI) is a partnership between the Mississippi Division of Medicaid and The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Social Work. The primary objective of MS-PCPI is to train professionals from Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver programs on person centered thinking and person centered plan facilitation to assist them in supporting persons with disabilities and older adults in Mississippi. For more information, contact MS-PCPI Program Director, Courtney Williams, at courtney.williamsFREEMississippi.

MISSISSIPPI WRAPAROUND INSTITUTE

208 Alcorn Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401
601-266-6112 | wrapFREEMississippi

The Mississippi Wraparound Institute is part of the School of Social Work.