Lauren Haack

Dr. Lauren Haack, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She serves as an attending psychologist, chief of the school-age youth division, and associate director for the Clinical Psychology Training Program. Her work focuses on cultural influences to mental health conceptualization, accessible evidence-based services for underserved youth, and provider training and consultation globally.

Dr. Haack's research spans global mental health, ADHD interventions, culturally attuned services for Latinx populations, and school-based treatment implementation. She pioneered the Collaborative Life Skills (CLS) program and its adaptations (CLS-FUERTE, CLS-R-FUERTE, CLS-A-FUERTE) for diverse populations, representing the first known effort to implement and evaluate a behavioral school-based program for youth attention and behavior in Latin America. Her work emphasizes mixed-method research to develop culturally responsive interventions that address health disparities among traditionally underserved youth and families.

Dr. Haack's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on culturally adapted interventions for ADHD, digital health tools to improve treatment access and adherence, and global mental health implementation science. Her research bridges academic inquiry with practical application in school and community settings across the US and Mexico.

• World Federation of ADHD 2017 6th World Congress on ADHD Young Scientist Award
• ISRCAP 2017 International Society for Research on Child and Adolescent Psychology Scholarship
• UCSF 2014 R.E. Harris Award for Excellence in Clinical and Research Activities
• Hellman Family Award for Early-Career Faculty (2020-2022)

Dr. Haack has mentored over 50 individuals at UCSF, with a focus on women and underrepresented minorities. She leads the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) FIELD seminar focused on Forensic psychiatry, Inclusive services, Social Justice, Education settings, Literature exploration, and child Development. Her current NIH R01-funded research (CLS-A-FUERTE) evaluates program effectiveness across 40 schools in two Mexican states while exploring implementation strategies.

Dr. Haack directs the Social-Transcultural Research and Intervention Valuing Equity (STRIVE) lab (strivelab.ucsf.edu) and serves as psychologist and school consultation lead on California's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal (Cal-MAP), which increases timely access to mental health care for youth in underserved and rural communities.