CONNECT Recognized for Raising Awareness in Children's Mental Health
Connecticut's Network of Care Transformation (CONNECT) initiative was recognized nationally by SAMHSA for
raising awareness about the importance of children's mental health. CONNECT earned three awards in the Excellence in Community Communications and Outreach (ECCO) category:
CONNECTing Children and Families to Care video earned Silver in the Social Marketing/Community Planning category
CONNECTing newsletter earned an Honorable Mention in the Parents and Caregivers category
CONNECT Family-Led Trainings at DCF with FAVOR, Inc. earned an Honorable Mention in the Professionals category
CONNECT is a DCF-led system of care expansion initiative, funded by SAMHSA. CHDI serves as the CONNECT Coordinating Center.
The ECCO Recognition Program showcases the achievements of SAMHSA grantees. View the full list of winners.
Jason Lang Published Two Articles on Child Trauma in the Journal of Traumatic Stress
CHDI's Jason Lang co-authored two articles on child trauma in the July 2018 edition of the Journal of Traumatic Stress.
The second article, " Patterns of Trauma Exposure in Childhood and Adolescence and Their Associations With Behavioral Well-Being," utilizes data from CONCEPT to review patterns of trauma exposure among children and their associations with well-being. The results suggest that patterns of exposure were related to varying levels of post traumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms. Results also suggest that parents and children differed in how they reported trauma exposure and behavioral issues, making it important for clinicians to gather input from both parents and children to get a complete picture of behavioral health when beginning treatment.
CHDI's Project Coordinator
Diana Perryjoined host Brad Davis on Talk of Connecticut radio show to discuss Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) and BounceBack!, an initiative aimed at increasing students' access to trauma-informed services. In partnership with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and model developer Dr. Sharon Hoover, CHDI serves as the coordinating center for schools throughout Connecticut to provide evidence-based therapeutic intervention to students who have been affected by trauma.
Providers, schools, school-based health centers, and others offering services in school settings can receive training, consultation,
implementation support, data reporting, and quality assurance at no cost, and are eligible for performance-based incentive funding. Schools, school-based health centers and mental health providers can learn more and apply for free CBITS and BounceBack! training and implementation support by visiting www.chdi.org/cbits.
Listen to Diana discuss how CBITS and BounceBack! can help schools address the trauma needs of their students.
School-Based Diversion Initiative Highlighted as Strategy for Family Engagement
The National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice released a brief summarizing research on the benefits and challenges of school engagement with families and offering practical recommendations on how to apply that research. The School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) has partnered with the family advocacy organization FAVOR for the last several year, and that partnership was highlighted as an example for other states. SBDI and FAVOR foster family-friendly attitudes among school personnel by presenting the lived experience of parents of children with mental health needs.
Aleece Kelly Joins CHDI as a New Senior Data Analyst
Aleece Kelly joined CHDI this month as a Senior Data Analyst for Mobile Crisis Intervention Services and Care Coordination as well as the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI). Prior to joining CHDI, Aleece worked as a program manager for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She obtained her MPP from the University of Southern California and her BA from the University of California.
