Contact

Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health
Email:vanessa.klodnick@austin.utexas.edu

Vanessa V. Klodnick, Ph.D., LCSW (she/her) is a nationally recognized expert in adolescent and young adult community mental health practice and policy. She specializes in youth peer support, supported education and employment and multidisciplinary team-based mental health services.

Klodnick partners with young people, community providers and system leaders to improve the quality of and access to developmentally attuned mental health care using mixed- and community-based participatory action research methods. Klodnick focuses on co-designing service models to promote positive outcomes among young people with serious mental health needs, in addition to those who are aging out of child welfare, pregnant and parenting, homeless, justice system involved, and living in poverty.

Klodnick has trained 1500+ mental health professionals, consulted in 15 states, authored 45+ peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, delivered 100+ conference presentations, and authored several publicly available practice manuals. Klodnick is PI and Co-I on several studies funded by NIDILRR, NIMH, SAMHSA, City/County/State Departments, and charitable foundations.

Klodnick previously served as Director of Youth & Young Adult Services Research & Innovation at Thresholds in Chicago where she successfully integrated continuous quality improvement practices, youth leadership and advocacy and evidence-based practice enhancements. Prior to Thresholds, Klodnick worked in child welfare as a case worker and therapist in Texas. Klodnick earned her Ph.D. at The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy & Practice, a master’s degree at the School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor’s degree at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

 

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Interests

Mental health services research, implementation science, research-community partnerships, peer and vocational support practice models, program evaluation, continuous quality improvemenMental health services research, implementation science, research-community partnerships, peer and vocational support practice models, program evaluation, continuous quality improvement, transition to adulthood for individuals experiencing disadvantage, vulnerability and marginalization, evidence-based practice blending, youth/young adult advisory boards, workforce development t, transition to adulthood for individuals experiencing disadvantage, vulnerability and marginalization, evidence-based practice blending, youth/young adult advisory boards, workforce development.

Research