Neal Horen is the Director of the Early Childhood Division at the Center for Child and Human Development, and the Director of the HOYA clinic in the Department of Psychiatry. In that capacity he oversees the Center’s efforts in early childhood including work in professional development, technical assistance, research and evaluation and clinical services.
Dr. Horen has been a leader in the field of early childhood mental health for the last two decades. He has assisted all states, a number of tribal nations and territories and hundreds of communities in development of systems of care for young children and their families. Dr. Horen has provided technical assistance and is considered one of the country’s leading experts in the development of a system of care in early childhood. He is the lead on early childhood for the The TA Network.
In addition, Dr. Horen has co-led the Center’s efforts around Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation. He serves as co-lead of the National Center of Excellence on Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and lectures extensively across the country. He has led a number of state and community efforts to build their mental health consultation services. Dr. Horen co-leads the mental health efforts on the Head Start National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness. He presents across the country on issues related to early childhood mental health including addressing challenging behavior, addressing trauma in young children and their families as well as staff wellness.
Dr. Horen is a licensed child psychologist providing therapeutic services and provide mental health consultation to young children and their families. He works closely with other members of the Department of Psychiatry in coordinating services and supports for families.
Dr. Horen can be reached at or at (202) 687-5443.
Education
- Undergraduate: Duke University, B.S. Psychology
- Graduate:
- Florida State, MS Cognitive Psychology
- University of South Florida, MA Clinical Psychology
- University of South Florida, PhD Clinical Psychology
Areas of Expertise
- Early Childhood Mental Health
- Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
- Community Psychology
- Social Skills Development
- Violence Prevention
- Preventative Mental Health
Selected Publications
- Miles. J. , Espiritu, R., Horen, N, Sebian, J. & Waetzig, L., & Blau, G. (2012). Public Health, Primary Prevention and Health Promotion in Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention, T. P. Gullotta & Bloom, M. (Eds),(Editor), New York, N.Y.: Springer, US.
- Duran, F. Hepburn, K., Irvine, M., Kaufmann, R. Anthony, B., Horen, N., & Perry, D. (2009). What Works?: A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development.
- Miles. J. , Espiritu, R., Horen, N, Sebian, J. & Waetzig, L. (2010). A Public Health Approach to Children’s Mental Health: A Conceptual Framework, Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development
- Horen, N.M., Perry, D., & Woodbridge, M. (2005). Taking it to the Streets: A participatory Action Research Model. Apuntes de Psicologia.
- Torgeson, J.K. & Horen, N.M. (1991). Computer-Assisted-Instruction with Learning Disabled Children in Esther Steinberg (ed.) Computer-Assisted Instruction: A synthesis of theory, practice and technology. Hillsdale, N.J.: L. Erlbaum & Associates.