The Center for Mental Health Promotion is a project housed in the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice at Utah State University. The CMHP conducts research, provides training and disseminates resources related to mental health. Areas of focus vary over time based on funding and community input, but our approach to this work remains consistent: we use a strengths-based lens to work collaboratively with communities to help create more inclusive environments that are useful for helping people live life more fully.
The Center for Mental Health Promotion
Ty Aller
Marriage and Family Therapist
Ty Aller is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a doctorate degree in Family Science and Human Development, with an emphasis in adolescent development. He has received over $1.3 million in state/federal/private grants, published numerous peer reviewed journal articles, presented research at national conferences, and been actively involved with dissemination and implementation science. His primary interests are learning how to better serve folks living in rural areas, Austistic adults, and college students to support their mental well being.
Raechel Russo
Marriage and Family Therapy
Raechel Russo graduated from Utah State University with a Master of Science degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2020, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Family Studies from Brigham Young University in 2017. She is passionate about helping others with their mental health and relationships. In her work at the IDRPP, she is helping train people on how to identify mental health issues, locate high-quality mental health resources, and respond to mental health issues. She also works as a marriage and family therapist candidate at a private practice in Oklahoma as she works toward becoming independently licensed.
Audrey Juhasz
Human Development and Family Studies
Dr. Audrey Juhasz graduated from Utah State University with a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies in 2019. She has expertise and experience in conducting evaluations in a variety of community programs. Her topical interests include early childhood education, specifically around diversity, inclusion, and equity and mental health. Current projects include developing a science curriculum for Indigenous preschoolers enrolled in Head Start, and latent profile analysis of the intersection of language and social emotional development in Spanish-English dual language learners in Head Start.
Rachel Byers
Research and Training
Rachel Byers graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science in Family Life Studies in 2018. She became passionate about human services provision and research throughout her undergraduate degree while working with children and youth with dual diagnoses. She worked in Pocatello, ID in management for a residential habilitation service provider, where her interest in IDD service provision and research piqued. Through personal and professional experiences, she has become particularly passionate about improving access to mental health resources in her community. She is expected to graduate with a Master of Public Health through Idaho State University in August of 2022. She currently works with the Employment and Mental Health teams in the Research and Training division at the IDRPP.