Dr. Khary Rigg was recently presented with the Early Career Achievement Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Connections Program. This award is intended to recognize an early career scholar for outstanding contributions to their field. Dr. Rigg was recognized for both his scholarly contributions to the field of substance use (40 peer-reviewed publications), as well as his service to the profession, including sitting on the editorial boards of five journals (Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Journal of Drug Issues, Harm Reduction Journal, Qualitative Social Work, and Substance Use & Misuse). He was also acknowledged for pushing his field forward by translating research to public and policy audiences via commentaries, policy briefs, social media, presentations, and news media communications.

Joshua T. Barnett, MHS, MA, ICCDP-Diplomate, a PhD Student in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy, is invited by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) to present to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in April. As part of a Local Opioid Overdose Prevention and Responses grant, in partnership with the Florida Department of Health, this presentation will encompass community-level strategies to prevent opioid overdose, implementation of harm reduction initiatives, and linkage to care strategies including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for those with opioid use disorder (OUD). The CDC will provide technical assistance focused on rapid response and outbreak protocols to the opioid epidemic.

Every Spring for the past 24 years, faculty and staff of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences have pooled their gifts to support WUSF 89.7 during the Spring Campaign. The campaign will air this year April 220inh. To participate in the challenge, you will need to donate to WUSF. The easiest way to accomplish this is via the Faculty/Staff campaign donation site - http://bit.ly/FacStaffCBCS. On this link you will also find many of our college funds.

The fund number for WUSF is 380001. You may also donate via check. When you donate to WUSF, please email Steve Johnson with the dollar amount. If your donation is made via payroll deduction or you are a sustaining member, please let him know the annual amount you contribute. Last year, we raised $4,933 for the station. For those of you that donate, we will be arranging a tour of the station.

Thank you for your continued support of the challenge and the Faculty and Staff Campaign. By donating, you are not only helping our university radio station, you are also helping us reach our goal for the year.

The CBCS Employee Recognition Award Program (RAP) is the college's highest honor for staff and recognizes Administrative, Staff and Temporary personnel employees with at least one year of service, and a performance rating of satisfactory, for their outstanding contributions/achievements. Nominations will be accepted beginning March 22nd through the deadline date of April 1st. Two recipients will each receive an award of $750.00. More information about the program and nomination forms can be found here. Completed nomination packages should be sent directly to Wendy Stoneman-Shelby at MHC 1133 or via email to wendys1@usf.edu by April 3rd. The recipients will be announced at the Faculty Spring Assembly on April 5th.

If you have news/events, or recent/upcoming publications you would like posted on the CBCS website and/or newsletter, please send the details and any attachments to CBCS Marketing. (CBCSMarketing@usf.edu)

Be sure to include all pertinent information in the format you would like to have posted (title, date, times, location, event description and contact information). Please provide your information in editable digital text format.

Articles included in the CBCS Communique may be disseminated to USF Media outlets and/or beyond.