Lauren M. Haack

Lauren M. Haack is a psychologist who provides mental health services, community outreach, supervision and training for a diverse population of young patients and their families. She specializes in caring for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on the Hyperactivity, Attention and Learning Problems team and using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to treat mood and anxiety disorders on the CBT team at the Children's Center at Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute. She is a member of the UCSF Juvenile Justice Behavioral Health Team, which seeks to improve outcomes for youths involved in the criminal justice system. She also serves as a supervisor for Child and Adolescent Services at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

Haack's research focuses on two main topics: cultural influences on how mental health is conceptualized, assessed and treated; and how to provide vulnerable youths and families worldwide with accessible, culturally appropriate services based on methods that have been proven to work. She is also involved in numerous collaborative research projects focused on using technology to improve access to and quality of mental health care for young people and their families.

Haack earned her master's degree in clinical psychology as well as her doctor of psychology degree at Marquette University. While completing an internship in clinical psychology at UCSF, she received a Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a behavioral program for Latino children with ADHD. This inspired her subsequent global health fellowship, funded by the NIH's Fogarty International Center, in which she pilot-tested a version of the Collaborative Life Skills Program in Sinaloa, Mexico. (UCSF and the San Francisco Unified School District developed the original program to address the gap in research-supported school services for students with attention and behavioral problems.)

Haack is passionate about community engagement and training; her endeavors include serving on an advisory board related to ADHD and leading seminars on a variety of topics related to mental health.

In her free time, Haack can be found cheering on the Clemson Tigers, Green Bay Packers and Golden State Warriors, and trying new restaurants.