Welcome

Welcome to the Services for At-Risk Youth & Families (SAYF) research laboratory at the University of Kansas. The SAYF Lab conducts research that aims to understand and meet the needs of children and adolescents who are at high risk of developing mental health problems due to exposure to trauma or other forms of adversity.

The overarching goal of our work is to inform evidence-based assessment and treatment approaches that address the diverse needs of these youths and can be delivered in challenging real-world settings. We pay particular attention to the cultural, community, and systemic factors that impact the mental health of children as well as the delivery of services. Furthermore, we value community-based research conducted in partnership with the agencies and public service systems that are ultimately responsible for serving the mental health needs of vulnerable children and families. Please visit the following pages to learn more about our work.