Vanessa V. Klodnick, Ph.D., L.C.S.W.

Vanessa V. Klodnick, Ph.D., L.C.S.W. (she/her). She is a nationally recognized expert in adolescent and young adult community mental health practice and policy, in particular near-age young adult peer support, supported employment enhancements and multidisciplinary service models. Klodnick is a Research Associate Professor with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work.

Klodnick partners with young people and community providers to improve quality of and access to developmentally attuned mental health care using mixed- and community-based participatory action research methods. Klodnick focuses on 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 1000+ mental health professionals, consulted in 10 states, authored 30+ peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, delivered 60+ conference presentations, and authored several publicly available practice manuals. Klodnick is PI and Co-I on several translational science projects funded by NIDILRR, NIH, SAMHSA, State Mental Health 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 and measurement-based care practices, as well as youth 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 Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, and a bachelor’s degree at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

Research 

• Examining the Feasibility of Emerge Model for Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Diagnoses (NIDILRR, 2022-2025) 
• Amplify Clinic, Center for Youth Mental Health, Dept. Of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Dell Medical School (2019-2024) 
• Developing the PLUS Peer Support Intervention & Training for Early Psychosis Programs (NIDILRR, 2021-2024) 
• Advancing the Early Psychosis Intervention Network in Texas (EPINET-TX) (NIH, 2020-2024) 
• Career and Occupational Readiness Experience (CORE): An Enhancement to the Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Model of Supported Employment for Transition-Age Youth with Psychiatric Disabilities, Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, UMASS Chan Medical School. (NIDILRR, 2019-2023) 
• Implementation & Evaluation of a Stepped Care Model for Clinical High Risk for Psychosis in Illinois (SAMHSA, 2018-2022) 
• Implementation of a Transition-Age Youth Team at Integral Care (Meadows Foundation, 2018-2020)
• Re-Conceptualizing Treatment Engagement for Transition-Age Youth Diagnosed with Serious Mental Health Conditions (NIH, 2017-2019)     
• Toolkit for Employers of Young Adult Recovery Workers, Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research, UMASS Chan Medical School. (NIDILRR, 2015-2019)  
• Creating a Multidimensional Model of Engagement for Young Adults with Psychiatric Disabilities in Community Outreach and Support Services (NIDILRR, 2015-2017)     
• Aging out of Child Welfare from Institutional Settings with Serious Mental Health Conditions (Fahs Beck Fund for Research, 2013-2015) 
• Designing an Effective Transitional Living Program for Homeless Youth with Serious Mental Health Challenges (U.S. DHHS, ACF, 2013-2017) 
• Adapting Evidence-Based Supported Employment for Transition Age Youth. The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center: Learning and Working during the Transition to Adulthood, The University of Massachusetts Medical School. (NIDILRR, 2009-2014)  

Other Projects 

• Integrating Young Adult Peer Mentors in Massachusetts. Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Children’s Behavioral Health Knowledge Center. (2020-current) 
• Integrating Peer Support & Implementing a Successful Young Adult Multidisciplinary Team, Northwestern University Focused Forward Clinic. (2021-2022) 
• Leveraging Evidence-based Practices to Boost Employment & Education among Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Diagnoses, South-Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network. (SAMHSA, 2021-2023)  
• Successfully Engaging Young Adults with Serious Mental Health Needs in Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Supported Employment & Education, Tennessee Department of Mental Health & Substance Use Services. (2021) 
• Integrating Young Adult Peer Navigators in Community Mental Health to Improve Transitions from Child to Adult Services, Integral Care, Austin, TX. (Meadows Foundation, 2020-2021)  
• Bridging the Gap Peer Advocate Program, Jewish Board of New York. (SAMHSA, 2017-2021)  
• Transition-Age Youth Service Development Project. The University of Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, Heart of Texas. (SAMHSA, 2016-2020) 
• Developmentally Attuned Vocational & Peer Supports for Transition-Age Youth with Mental Health Needs. Tennessee Healthy Transitions Initiative. (SAMHSA, 2019) 
• Integrating Young Adult Peer Mentors in New Mexico Community Mental Health Services. New Mexico Healthy Transitions Initiative, UMASS Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research. (SAMHSA, 2018-2019)  
• Success for Transition Aged Youth (STAY) Project. The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. (SAMHSA, 2015-2019) 
• Transition Age Youth System of Care Expansion Project. The University of Texas, Institute for Excellence in Mental Health. (SAMHSA, 2015-2017)  
• Homeless Youth Prevention Project (HYPP) with Illinois Collaboration on Youth & Illinois Department of Child & Family Services. (U.S. DHHS ACF, 2014-2015)