Tara Mehta

Dr. Tara Mehta is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of Psychology Training at the Institute for Juvenile Research, affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). She leads the ACCESS for Mental Health research lab, focusing on reducing ethnic minority disparities in child mental health access through community-based collaborative research and workforce development. Her work emphasizes leveraging natural resources in schools and after-school settings, activating paraprofessionals, and enhancing organizational factors to sustain effective practices. She collaborates with Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Park District, and community mental health centers.

• Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology, UIC
• Director of Psychology Training, Institute for Juvenile Research
• Core faculty, UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science

Her research interests center on ecological public health models, mental health services research, and Asian American mental health. She has secured significant grants, including a 5-year NIMH R01, and leads projects like Building multi-level support for recreational staff and Patient Navigators for Children's Mental Health. Key themes in her recent publications include implementation science, ADHD intervention through physical activity, and trauma-informed care in hospitals. Her awards include Fellow status in APA and SCCAP. She is actively recruiting doctoral students for Fall 2024 admissions.

• Community-Based Research
• Dissemination & Implementation Science
• Workforce Development
• Paraprofessional-Led Services

Scientific awards include:

• Fellow, American Psychological Association (2024)
• Fellow, Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP) (2024)

Dr. Mehta’s lab, ACCESS for Mental Health, partners with Urban Initiatives, Chicago Park District, and social service agencies to implement programs like Leaders @ Play and Project BUILT. Her grants focus on NIMH-funded studies examining mental health navigation and virtual professional learning communities.