Our research efforts are centered around collaborations with respected public health institutions. We seek out researchers affiliated with these institutions who have experience and demonstrated interest in the topics of concern to the Foundation.
Boston Children’s Hospital – STRIPED Collaboration
In 2022, the Becca Schmill Foundation initiated and funded a collaboration with Boston Children’s Hospital’s (BCH) Strategic Training Initiative for the Prevention of Eating Disorders (STRIPED). STRIPED is a public health incubator affiliated with BCH and the Harvard C.H. Chan School of Public Health and is led by Dr. Bryn Austin.
Using our funding, Dr. Austin brought together a team of BCH researchers and legal scholars to study viable avenues for government action to address social media platform design and business practices that are harmful to adolescent mental health.
This research led to the creation of a roadmap for state policymakers to guide evidence-based and legally viable model legislation that would require social media platforms to submit algorithms for third-party risk audits and ensure third-party auditors attend to the specific types of algorithmic functions that are causing harm.
On November 13, 2023, the teams’ research abstract received the prestigious Abstract of the Year Award from the American Public Health Association (APHA) Law Section. Their model legislation is currently being considered for introduction in several State legislatures.
NOTE FROM DR. AUSTIN:
“I just want to say how deeply grateful I am that Deb reached out to me way back in the fall of 2021 to start the conversation about how STRIPED could help to further the vital mission of the Becca Schmill Foundation. Without a doubt, so much of what we have been able to accomplish since then has been made possible through the support of the Foundation.” – Dr. Bryn Austin
The Becca Schmill Foundation is incredibly proud to have been able to support Bryn and her team in their timely and innovative research.
Boston Medical Center Catalyst Clinic Collaboration
The Mission of the Catalyst Clinic is “To help youth and young adults who use substances lead healthy lives through holistic, team-based care. “The Catalyst Clinic team “provides access to a wide range of services including primary care, harm reduction, assessment and treatment of substance use disorders, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and recovery support for patients through age 25 and their families.” Learn more about the Catalyst Clinic.
On Saturday, November 4, 2023, at the Annual AMERSA conference (https://amersa.org), Dr. Sarah Bagley, Director of the Catalyst Clinic, presented preliminary results of her research that was funded by the Becca Schmill Foundation. This research explored attitudes and perspectives on providing overdose prevention education and treatment of opioid use disorder in School-Based Health Centers and identified opportunities and barriers to the implementation of programs. Dr. Bagley’s research was very well received and will provide data for future grant submissions for programming. The results of the study will be publicized in a peer-reviewed journal.
Massachusetts General Hospital Collaboration
The Becca Schmill Foundation provided funding to study the impact of a data analytic software program that gathers information through a Fitbit that can then be used to support high school students suffering from substance use disorders. This research is being led by Dr. Emily Hennessy of the Recovery Research Institute in collaboration with Mass General Hospital, the Northshore Recovery High School (NRHS), and behavioral analytics company, Pretaa, Inc.
Northshore Recovery High School is a specialized school centered on recovery and behavioral health. The students at Northshore not only have struggled with substance use, but 90% have experienced significant trauma. The study will provide data on substance use recovery and overdose prevention outcomes for these students using the Pretaa protocol.
