Connecting Communities and Care: C-CART Scholars Lead Research to Strengthen Substance Use Treatment
This spring, four research teams completed their training through the Community-Centered Addictions Research Training Program (C-CART), a project of NAU’s Center for Community Health and Engaged Research (CHER). Designed to support students, early-career researchers, and behavioral health professionals, the program focuses on substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatment for minority populations across the Southwest.
C-CART engages participants in hands-on research with mentorship from academic and community partners. Scholars work in teams to address real-world issues that affect people living in rural and tribal communities.
The 2025 cohort explored a range of topics that reflect the complexity and urgency of improving access to care.
Meet the research teams
Tanner Nelson, PsyD Candidate, led two projects: one examining predictors of treatment outcomes in Southwest behavioral health systems, and another focused on how college students perceive and experience substance use treatment on campus.
Team: Drs. Taylor Lane, Ramona Mellott, William Marsh, Emery Eaves, and Carl Dindo; collaborator: Dazhoni Scott, MA, LPC, CRC
Cambria McDonald, PhD, LPC, and Ashley Johns, BA, co-led a mixed-methods study on marijuana use during recovery from alcohol or other substance use. Their research offers insight into how individuals navigate substance use behaviors in recovery.
Team: Katherine Mommaerts, PhD, MSW, LCSW; Kelli Gonzales, MA, LAAC; Tina Gifford; and Stephanie Babbitt, PhD, LP
Elisabeth Williams, PhD Candidate, and Jodi Brown, PsyD Candidate, co-led an evaluation of a wellness tool that incorporates social factors into substance use treatment. Their work explored how non-medical needs shape the treatment experience.
Team: Drs. Shane Haberstroh, Ramona Mellott, and William Marsh, Nirit Simon
Sandra Thomas, MS, and Amanda Acevedo, MA, EdS, co-led a study on satisfaction with SUD treatment among individuals living in a rural community. The project focused on how location and local services influence the treatment journey.
Team: Kimberly Mora, MA; Drs. Julie Baldwin, Tara Bautista, and Jorge Herrera
Now in its sixth year, C-CART plans to bring together students, researchers, and community members to strengthen behavioral health systems through meaningful, locally informed research. The work of these teams reflects CHER’s ongoing commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders working to improve substance use treatment in underserved communities.