University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

STRONG STAR Training Initiative 

The South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience (STRONG STAR) is a multidisciplinary and multi-institutional research consortium that develops and evaluates the most effective early interventions for the detection, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions. The STRONG STAR Training Initiative trains veteran-serving community mental health providers in evidence-based treatments for PTSD and related mental health problems to increase access to high-quality care. STRONG STAR trains providers in the use of evidence-based therapies for posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, insomnia, and nightmares. As more community mental health providers are trained to competency in these therapies, veterans will benefit from increased local access to leading treatments that will help them maintain or resume healthy, productive lives. The Training Initiative will conduct Learning Communities in EBTs for PTSD winter, spring and fall 2022. Mental health providers enrolled in a Learning Community will receive follow-up expert consultation, organizational consultation, and advanced training for 12 months after the initial training. With this BWF grant, STRONG STAR will provide training and consultation in Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy to 125 veteran-serving, community-based mental health providers across the nation.