American Psychological Foundation Awards Grant for Trauma Care in Guatemala

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The American Psychological Foundation has awarded Yahaira I. Márquez, PhD, a Direct Action Visionary Grant to expand access to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in Guatemala. Márquez, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine’s CARES Institute, will work with local mental health professionals to train them in providing TF-CBT, a treatment designed to help children and their caregivers recover from trauma.

The need for effective trauma care in Guatemala is significant, but many mental health professionals lack the ongoing training and support necessary to deliver it. Márquez's project aims to address this gap by building local expertise that can be sustained beyond the grant period. The program will prepare a group of Guatemalan mental health professionals to provide TF-CBT within their own communities, evaluate the training's effectiveness, and explore its impact on children and families.

“It allows me to work alongside Guatemalan professionals who are already giving everything they have to children and families, and to study together how nearly 30 years of trauma science can become accessible, culturally and linguistically responsive, and sustainable within their own systems. It is an opportunity to build my career around not only translating words, but translating knowledge into healing.”

The project will focus on preparing a group of Guatemalan mental health professionals to provide TF-CBT within their communities. It will assess whether the training is culturally and linguistically responsive and feasible within Guatemala’s existing service systems. The program will also evaluate the benefits for children and families who receive TF-CBT, with the findings informing an effective, locally driven, and sustainable approach to trauma care.

Michelle Quist Ryder. “This project pairs local knowledge and expertise with evidence-based research, and we are proud to support Dr. Márquez in building sustainable systems of care for children and families in crisis.”

The American Psychological Foundation has been supporting psychologists and service organizations since its founding in 1953. Through its Direct Action initiative, the Foundation aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, providing real-time care to communities in need. The program supports innovative programs and partnerships that apply psychology to address community needs on both a grassroots and national level.

The Child Trauma Learning Program, funded by the Direct Action Visionary Grant, is part of the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to improve access to mental health services in underserved communities. By working with local professionals, the program seeks to ensure that the knowledge and skills gained are sustainable and applicable to the specific needs of the Guatemalan population.