CHDI is excited to announce the expansion of the Comprehensive School Mental Health (CSMH) initiative for the 2023-24 school year. With support from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) and State Department of Education (CSDE), CHDI will provide consultation, training, and technical assistance to nine districts across the state.

CSMH systems provide an array of supports and services that promote a positive school climate, social-emotional learning, behavioral health, and well-being while reducing the prevalence of behavioral health issues and crises, leading to better, more equitable outcomes for the entire school community.

CHDI helps schools and districts design and implement sustainable, custom CSMH systems tailored to their specific interests, needs, funding, and capacity - it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Learn more about the CSMH approach and the districts we're working with this year in the article below.

Schools and districts interested in using a CSMH approach or the SHAPE System to address students' behavioral health needs should contact Dr. Jamie LoCurto (jlocurto@chdi.org) to inquire about free consultation, training, and technical assistance.

School district leaders, local and state policymakers, and education advocates should review our recent Policy Brief: Supporting Student Mental Health: Is Connecticut in Good SHAPE?, which shares recommendations for aligning statewide policies to support comprehensive school mental health.

Since 2009, 73 schools in 26 districts across Connecticut have participated in the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI). SBDI aims to prevent in-school arrests, reduce exclusionary discipline methods, and connect more youth with behavioral health services and supports.

For the upcoming school year, we're pleased to welcome the high school and two middle schools from the Consolidated School District of New Britain to SBDI. West Hartford Public Schools will expand its SBDI work (already begun in middle schools) to both of the town's high schools this year, joining Lebanon Public Schools and Watertown Public Schools in returning to the program. At least one additional district is expected to join the initiative later this fall.

We look forward to working together to help keep kids in school, improve outcomes, and ensure that all students receive fair and equitable in-school discipline regardless of mental health status, special education needs, or demographic characteristics.

SBDI was recently highlighted in a white paper from the Center for Policing Equity as a successful approach to improving student well-being, school climate, school safety, and equity in education and the juvenile justice system. The paper, "Redesigning Public Safety: K-12 Schools," urges policymakers and school administrators to invest in public health strategies such as school diversion measures and restorative justice initiatives. Read the Center's recommendations here.

CHDI co-developed the SBDI model and serves as the SBDI Coordinating Center. SBDI is funded by these partners.

To help educators, behavioral health providers, parents and youth prepare for the new school year, we compiled this (non-exhaustive) list of ten back-to-school resources from CHDI and our colleagues around the country.

From mobile crisis services to free courses for educators and new toolkits for parents and youth, this list will help you start the new year better equipped to support the behavioral health and well-being of the students in your life.

CHDI has contracted with the State of Connecticut to develop a statewide strategic plan for the children’s behavioral health workforce. The final plan will include system, policy and practice, short- and long-term recommendations regarding the workforce pipeline, recruitment, retention, diversity strategies, and competency areas to strengthen.

Public comment on the draft plan is open through September 18, 2023. We invite you to review the draft plan and provide feedback to help us make the plan as effective as possible.

With research showing that less than 3% of adolescents who need substance use care actually receive it, CHDI is working to expand evidence-based substance use screening, early intervention, and treatment for youth and young adults in Connecticut.

We are currently leading two substance use initiatives: the CT-TREE Initiative, which will expand two well-established, evidence-based substance use disorder treatment models at health centers in eastern Connecticut, and an expansion of evidence-based substance use screening and treatment among Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics for Children (OPCCs) statewide.

CHDI is a proud partner in Connecting to Care, a systems of care initiative aimed at building a coordinated and integrated network of care that meets the behavioral health needs of all children in Connecticut.

One of the initiative's focus areas is promoting the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards, a set of action steps intended to advance equity in health care.

Connecting to Care provides FREE training, technical assistance, support, and consultation to help child-serving organizations align with CLAS Standards and develop Health Equity Plans to improve the quality of care and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. View current offerings in Connecting to Care's 2023 CLAS Training & Technical Assistance Catalog:

A new study, co-authored by CHDI’s Jeana Bracey, Ph.D. and researchers from Yale University and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, aims to provide a better understanding of the characteristics and outcomes of youth with specific needs who received wraparound care coordination.

Published in this month’s Children and Youth Services Review, the study analyzed data from 1,243 families enrolled in Connecticut’s statewide System of Care (SOC). Using a latent class analysis, the researchers identified five distinct classes of youth needs: behavioral, ADHD-related behavioral, educational, mental health, and multi-needs. The study found that tailoring care to these needs led to improved treatment outcomes - read the article below for the full findings.

In our latest Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT) Spotlight, we took a look at Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI). Recommended for use within 45 days of a traumatic event or disclosure of abuse, CFTSI has been shown to be effective at preventing the onset of PTSD. Watch this video for an overview of CFTSI in under 90 seconds.

To learn how to bring CFTSI to your organization, contact our partners at the Yale Center for Traumatic Stress and Recovery, which developed this important EBT.

Project Coordinator: For projects related to evidence-based practice dissemination and quality improvement initiatives (including substance use & co-occurring disorders).

The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing effective and integrated system, practice, and policy solutions that result in equitable and optimal behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families in Connecticut and beyond.

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