Anya Nazarenko

Research Assistant
Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Before joining the Begun Center, Anya worked as a community-based Therapeutic Behavior Specialist serving adults with severe and persistent mental illness. In this position, she focused on providing behavioral health interventions to assist individuals with the development of daily living skills, advocacy and outreach, and crisis intervention.

Anya earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University in 2013.

Q: Why is your work at the Begun Center important to you, to our community, and to the world? Through my work at the Begun Center, I am able to be a part of the process that creates positive change and improves the lives of people in my community. By partnering with local, state, and federal agencies, we are able to use data-driven results to develop programs that best serve the community and improve global standards of care.

Q: What is a cause about which you are particularly passionate? I am passionate about improving access to mental health and substance abuse treatment services for people living with severe and persistent mental illness. I believe in the use of a recovery model of care that includes addressing quality of life issues like housing, employment, and improving community support and engagement.

Research Projects

  • Cuyahoga County Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) Pilot Program
  • Cuyahoga County Early Jail Diversion (CIT PLUS) Program