Janet Welsh

Janet Welsh is a Research Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at The Pennsylvania State University, leading prevention research since 1994. She serves as Principal Investigator for the Evidence-based Prevention and Intervention Support (EPIS) initiative and has been co-Investigator for the PROSPER project since 2001, focusing on real-world application of academic research for community benefit.

Her research centers on implementation science for evidence-based interventions, particularly examining adaptation success factors in new contexts and special populations including U.S. military and Native American communities. Work spans early childhood through adolescence across individual, family, and community levels, with emphasis on sustainability of substance abuse prevention programs and best practices for disenfranchised groups.

Scientific recognition includes:

• SPR Translational Science Award (2023)

She directs major federally funded projects including Head Start REDI, Focus on Learning, Safe Schools initiatives, FAST Track, and Department of Defense collaborations. Current work addresses opioid misuse prevention, mental health expansion through PROSPER, and rural community resilience via projects like REACH and Coalition Check-Up. Her EPIS framework bridges research-policy-practice to improve child and family outcomes across Pennsylvania.