CHDI NEWSLETTER
Issue Brief Examines the Impact of Mobile Crisis Services on Behavioral Health Emergency Department Use
Issue Brief
Emergency department use by youth for behavioral health conditions continues to rise, highlighting the need for strategies and interventions to ensure children can get the care they need in the most appropriate setting.

CHDI's Issue Brief, " Mobile Crisis Services: An Effective Approach for Reducing Emergency Department Utilization Among Youth with Behavioral Health Conditions ," examines  Mobile Crisis Intervention Services as an alternative to emergency departments. The Issue Brief is based on a study (see below) associating Mobile Crisis with a 25% lower rate of subsequent behavioral health emergency department visits. 

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Youth Mobile Crisis Services Are Found to Decrease Subsequent Behavioral Health Emergency Department Visits  
Evaluation of Mobile Crisis
A new report,  Evaluation of Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services: Impact on Behavioral Health Emergency Department Use and Provider Perspective on Strengths and Challenges, summarizes results of a year long study conducted by Michael Fendrich and colleagues at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work through a grant from the Children's Fund of Connecticut. 

Issue Brief Provides Recommendations to Help Youth Development Programs Become Trauma-Informed
Issue Brief
Youth development programs, such as sports and other strength-based extracurricular activities, provide a unique but largely untapped opportunity to support youth who experience potentially traumatic events and adversity.  The single most important resource for children exposed to trauma is a supportive adult, a resource that youth development programs  are well-positioned to provide. 

This Issue Brief, " Integrating a Trauma-Informed Approach with Youth Development Programs," examines opportunities to improve the
health and well-being of trauma-affected youth and identifies three  key                                      strategies for youth  development programs to  become trauma-informed. 


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Article Shares Recommendations to Advance and Support CT's Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Workforce
CT by the Numbers logo
CHDI's Abby Alter recently co-wrote an article for CT by the Numbers with Heidi Madeira of the Connecticut Association of Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH) highlighting efforts to ensure professionals working with children and families are well-trained to promote mental health, preventive care, early intervention, and treatment.  The article, " Perspective: A Needed Credential to Advance Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, provides recommendations for the state to expand the capacity of the early childhood workforce to address the social and emotional needs of young children. 

Over the past several years, CT-AIMH has built and expanded a statewide system of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Endorsement®.  To learn more about this work, read our issue brief, " Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Building a Statewide System of Professional Endorsement® ".

Article Highlights Framework for Addressing Students' Trauma and Mental Health Needs
A recent CT by the Numbers article highlighted CHDI's latest IMPACT, Healthy Students and Thriving Schools,   as a guide for school districts and state policymakers to address students' trauma and mental health needs. School principals indicate that mental health is one of the most challenging unmet needs among their students. One in five children meet criteria for a mental health disorder; however the majority of children with identified challenges do not receive services. Among those who do access care, approximately 70 percent receive services through their schools. 

Read the full article, " Report Provides Guidance for School Districts and State Policymakers to Address Students' Trauma & Mental Health Needs." 

Read CHDI's IMPACT: Healthy Students Thriving Schools: A Comprehensive Approach for Addressing Student's Trauma and Mental Health Needs.

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