Mary M. McKay, PhD

Dr. McKay has received substantial federal funding for research focused on meeting the mental health and health prevention needs of youth and families impacted by poverty. Working with colleagues in the field, she has developed a substantial body of knowledge around engagement practices to improve involvement in family-based HIV prevention programs and mental health services for children, youth and families in high-poverty urban areas both in the U.S. and global contexts. She has significant expertise in services and implementation research methods and child behavioral health, as well as over 15 years of experience conducting HIV prevention and care-oriented studies, supported by continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, she has collaborated with NIMH, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to create evidence-based engagement interventions and to test models of dissemination and training for mental health professionals in engagement best practices.