About Us

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About Us

The mission of the Mental Health Information for Teens (MHIT) website is to provide mental health information for young people. It is especially for those with a family member, often a parent, that has a mental illness.

 

About Dr. R and website research team

Through 2018, the hands-on MHIT research team consisted of the following individuals:

Joanne Riebschleger, LMSW, PhD

Joanne Riebschleger is the lead for the Mental Health Knowledge for Youth website project. She has talked to and collaborated with children that have a parent with a mental illness, their parents, and other family members for over  25 years. 

Dr. Riebschleger’s position and work on the Mental Health Knowledge for Youth pilot research project is partially supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute on Food and Agriculture, through the Hatch Act project MICL02432.

 

Daniel Cavanaugh, LMSW

Daniel is a PhD student at MSU who works on research and projects related to mental illness prevention, mental health treatment for children, e-mental health, scale development, foster families, LGBTQ scholarship, and adventure therapy. He has worked for many years as a mental health therapist for children, adults, and families in both Oregon and Michigan. 

 

Web Development & Consulting Team

Sarah Swierenga, PhD

Dr. Sarah J. Swierenga is Director of the Usability/Accessibility Research and Consulting Unit and Professor by Courtesy in the Department of Media and Information. A researcher and a practitioner with over 25 years of experience in the scientific study of users in government, healthcare, commercial, military, and academic environments, Sarah possesses extensive skills in user-centered design, and usability and accessibility methodologies.

 

Tony Beyers

Tony Beyers is the Communications Director for the MSU School of Social Work and contributes to website development and dissemination of news and events regarding the School and its programs. He has assisted with gathering and organizing information included in this website and advised on technical questions as they have arisen.

 

Jennifer Ismirle

Jennifer Ismirle is a Senior User Experience (UX) Researcher with Usability/Accessibility Research and Consulting Unit. She leads and conducts a variety of user-centered design research involving usability testing, focus groups, card sorting and findability validation, or heuristic reviews of industry, healthcare, government, and MSU department websites, software, or other products.

 

Hannah Klautke

Hannah Klautke

Hannah Klautke is a User Experience Research Associate with Usability/Accessibility Research and Consulting. She is involved in usability evaluations, focus groups, and information architecture projects for MSU and external clients. Hannah holds a B.A. in Psychology, a M.A. in Communication, and a Ph.D. in both Communication and Educational Psychology and Educational Technology.

 

About Our Funders:

Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation

The Mental Health Knowledge for Youth project is partially funded by Gerstacker Foundation located in Midland, Michigan. They provided funding to begin to determine the content needed for the site as recommended by youth who have a parent or other family member with a mental illness. The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation was founded by Mrs. Eda U. Gerstacker in 1957, in memory of her husband. Its primary purpose is to carry on, indefinitely, financial aid to charities of all types supported by Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Gerstacker during their lifetimes. These charities are concentrated in the states of Michigan and Ohio.

United States Department of Agriculture:

Dr. Riebschleger’s position and work on the Mental Health Knowledge for Youth pilot research project is partially supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute on Food and Agriculture, through the Hatch Act project MICL02432.

Affiliates

The Michigan State University Outreach and Community Engagement team supports the MHIT site by providing website development advising and early testing.

MSU Outreach and Community Engagement logo

MSU School of Social Work logo

MHIT is affiliated with the Michigan State University School of Social Work

socialwork.msu.edu

 

Giving to Support the Site

We welcome donations to the website so we can continue to keep it updated and relevant for young people who can benefit from accurate mental health information.Contact the site administrator for more information using the contact link at the bottom of the page.