Psychology grad helps at-risk youth in Florida

Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice contracted with Evidence-Based Associates (EBA) to launch the Redirection Project in an effort to “redirect” troubled youth from residential placements to more effective, family-focused, evidence-based treatment options.

UCF Psychology graduate Laurie Blades, ’87, has taken a position with Evidence-Based Associates (EBA), a national firm that works with state and local agencies to identify and implement evidence-based programs for at-risk youth. As a project manager for the state’s Redirection Project, Blades will be responsible for overseeing the programs provided to youth and families in the North region.

Blades has 25 years of experience working in the human services field and has worked in a variety of children’s mental health, child welfare, special education and juvenile justice areas. On a local level, she has been a service provider, facilitator of community collaboration and an advocate for children and their families to ensure they have access to quality services. On a state level, Blades has worked in the areas of policy, finance allocation, management, implementation of evidenced-based practices and monitored Florida’s compliance with federal and statewide outcomes and performance measures.

Prior to joining EBA, Blades was the head of Children’s Mental Health where she facilitated and participated in statewide workgroups and obtained a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHS) statewide grant to ensure Florida had an evidence-based system of care.

She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Central Florida. Blades is a certified public manager and served on the Board of Examiners for the Florida Sterling Council in 2006 and 2007. “We are thrilled to have Laura join our team,” says Dan Edwards, president of EBA. “With her vast experience in the children’s mental health field, we will be able to expand our operation in Florida which in turn will allow us to help even more families and high-risk youth across Florida.”

Established in 2004, Florida’s Department of Juvenile Justice contracted with Evidence-Based Associates (EBA) to launch the Redirection Project in an effort to “redirect” troubled youth from residential placements to more effective, family-focused, evidence-based treatment options.