National Center for Mental Health:
Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment (MHDIS)
Our Goal
People at risk for or with mental health disorders, especially in underserved and historically underrepresented populations, have difficulty accessing any care, effective treatments, or treatments delivered effectively (i.e., with high fidelity to original models). Implementation science is the study of how to successfully integrate effective interventions in settings.
Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA; H79SM090078; PI Heather Gotham), the National Center for Mental Health: Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment (MHDIS) will translate findings from implementation science into pragmatic resources and targeted and intensive TA services to address national gaps, barriers, and problems faced by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) grant recipients and mental health-related organizations.
The MHDIS has two goals:
Increase the availability of implementation science-based resources across eight core topic areas on how to disseminate, implement, and sustain effective mental health practices.
Increase the capability of CMHS grant recipients and organizations that oversee or directly provide mental health services to disseminate, implement, and sustain effective mental health practices. Five bi-regional Mental Health TA Centers (MHTACs) will be established and provide targeted and intensive TA, leveraging the eight core resource areas.
Our Team
Heather Gotham, PhD
Dr. Heather Gotham is a Clinical Associate Professor and clinical psychologist who joined Stanford in August 2018. Her work focuses on increasing the capability of behavioral health and health care providers to implement evidence-based practices that more effectively help people with mental health and substance use disorders. Dr. Gotham is the Principal Investigator for the SAMHSA-funded National Center for Mental Health Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment (MHDIS) and is Co-Director of the Administrative Core of the NIDA-funded HEAL Data2Action Research Adoption Support Center. She is also a co-investigator on NIH-funded projects studying the implementation of substance use disorder screening and treatment approaches in HIV care settings and in women’s health settings.
Margot Heron
Marketing Coordinator
Margot Heron joined the Center for Dissemination and Implementation team in June 2024 as a communications specialist. With a BA from Occidental College, she possesses a strong foundation in communications and a deep commitment to impactful messaging. Prior to this role, Margot honed her skills in social media strategy at Lean In, where she developed campaigns that effectively engaged diverse audiences. Her ability to craft compelling narratives and execute strategic initiatives positions her well to promote CDI's vital work. In her current role, Margot aims to bridge the gap between complex research and public understanding, fostering greater engagement with implementation science. She collaborates with various teams, including MHDIS, C-DIAS, and RASC, to create innovative communication strategies that enhance the team's mission and outreach efforts.
Jessica Gonzalez, MSW
Associate Director
Jessica Gonzalez, MSW is the Associate Director for the National Center for Mental Health Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment (MHDIS) at CDI. Through the MHDIS, Jessica is coordinating the work of 5 centers that provide technical assistance to the mental health workforce on strategies needed to implement the use of evidence-based mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery support services across the United States. Jessica previously worked in the community as a social worker providing mental health services in school and outpatient clinic settings to children and adolescents from diverse backgrounds.
Ricardo Canelo, MPH
Director of Operations
Ricardo Canelo, MPH, is the Director of Operations for the National Center for Mental Health Dissemination, Implementation, and Sustainment (MHDIS). The MHDIS is part of the Center for Dissemination and Implementation in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Through the MHDIS, Ricardo is coordinating the work of 5 centers that provide technical assistance to the mental health workforce on strategies needed to implement the use of evidence-based mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery support services across the United States.
The Stanford team is collaborating with five bi-regional MHTACs:
- Northeast MHTAC (Regions 1 & 2), Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, led by Ann A. Murphy, PhD, CPRP, and Kenneth Gill, PhD
- East Coast MHTAC (Regions 3 & 4), Emory University, led by Benjamin Druss, MD, MPH
- Midwest MHTAC (Regions 5 & 7), University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by Todd Molfenter, PhD, and Sherrie Nichols, MS, LMFT
- Southwest and Plains MHTAC (Regions 6 & 8), University of Texas at Austin, led by Molly Lopez, PhD, and Stacey Stevens Manser, PhD
- West Coast MHTAC (Regions 9 & 10), University of Washington, led by Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH, and Christina Clayton, LICSW, SUDP
Learn More
Starting March 2025, we will provide training and technical assistance specifically on "the how" or process of disseminating, implementing, and sustaining effective mental health services. If you are interested in learning about MHDIS, please complete this form to be added to our email list.
We are also hiring new staff for our project! Learn more about our job postings on our Opportunities page.