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In this month's issue:
- New schools join the School-Based Diversion Initiative for 2025-26
- Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services show strong FY25 outcomes
- Reminder: Take our survey for CT licensed behavioral health providers by 10/31
- CHDI hosting policy fellowship in children's behavioral health
- Meet our newest staff member
Also, be sure to check out this month's timely featured Kids Mental Health Training course: Trauma ScreenTIME Schools.
| | Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services Maintain Strong Performance in FY2025 | | |
8,428 children and youth used the state's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services (MCIS) in fiscal year 2025, according to the latest data analysis by CHDI. The vast majority (88%) received an in-person response to their home or school from a trained clinician in under 45 minutes.
As the state's MCIS Performance Improvement Center, CHDI recently published the FY2025 MCIS Annual Report, sharing data on key indicators of access, quality, and outcomes that confirm Connecticut remains among the nation's top-performing youth mobile crisis services. In the spirit of continuous quality improvement, each report also includes data-driven recommendations for the upcoming year. FY25 highlights include:
| | Download the report to learn more about the impact of mobile crisis services in FY2025 and see recommendations for 2026: | | School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) Kicks off New Year | | |
The School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) is proud to welcome five new schools from two Connecticut districts to the program for the 2025-26 academic year:
CT Technical Education and Career System
- Cheney Technical High School
- Ella Grasso Technical High School
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Bridgeport Public Schools
- Central High School
- Bassick High School
- Harding High School
They join six other schools from New Milford, Windsor Locks, and Danbury Public Schools who are returning for their second year of SBDI. In total, 82 schools across 29 districts have implemented the SBDI model since 2009, with excellent results:
| | A partnership between CHDI and several state agencies, SBDI works with schools and districts to reduce the rate of in-school arrests, expulsions, and suspensions. Learn more about how SBDI works in our new infographic: | | Reminder for Licensed Providers in CT: Take Our Annual Survey by October 31st | | Licensed providers, we need to hear from you! In support of the new Children’s Behavioral Health Workforce Center and the state’s CT Health Horizons initiative, CHDI is conducting its annual survey of licensed behavioral health professionals in Connecticut now through the month of October. This annual survey identifies trends in strengths and challenges across the workforce. Your responses will inform recommendations to the state for improving support for the workforce. | | |
A survey link has been shared via email with all licensed behavioral health providers in Connecticut (social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists). Check your inboxes for an email from Survey Research (survey@chdi.org) to find the link.
Each week, 5 lucky survey respondents will be randomly selected to receive a $50 gift card. Complete the survey today and make your voice heard!
| If you are a licensed provider in CT and have not yet received an email from Survey Research (survey@chdi.org), please check your spam folder and contact Kate Powers at kpowers@chdi.org for assistance. | | CHDI Launches Policy Fellowship in Children's Behavioral Health | | |
This month, CHDI launched a new policy fellowship to provide graduate students, trainees, and residents in pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, and social work with a foundational understanding of the role of policy and policymaking in children's behavioral health.
In collaboration with partners at Yale University and UConn Health Center, the new fellowship, Introduction to Policymaking in Children’s Behavioral Health, will consist of a series of didactic presentations by CHDI President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD, and expert Yale and UConn faculty. Dr. Vanderploeg will also support participants in developing policy proposals and presentations for an upcoming CT Scholars Strategy Network event aimed at bridging the gap between research and policymaking. We look forward to sharing their presentations early next year - stay tuned!
| | September Featured Training | | Trauma ScreenTIME Schools Course | | |
The Trauma ScreenTIME Schools Course provides staff working with children and youth in schools the knowledge to effectively screen children for trauma and connect families with their preferred supports and services to help children recover from the effects of trauma exposure. Topics covered include the impact of trauma on learning and behavior, developing a screening process for your school, best practices for conducting screenings, and what to do with the results.
This online course is appropriate for clinical as well as non-clinical staff, including school leadership and administrators, teachers, school nurses, office staff, paraprofessionals, and school mental health clinicians. Available at no cost to school staff nationwide!
| | Trauma ScreenTIME is part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and is funded through a Category II NCTSI grant from SAMHSA. | | |
Kids Mental Health Training is an online learning portal that provides convenient, evidence-based training on a variety of children’s behavioral health topics for clinicians, educators, pediatric providers, and other youth-serving professionals.
All KMHT courses are available at NO cost!
Browse catalog: www.KidsMentalHealthTraining.org
| | | Sharing Strategies for Strengthening Systems of Care | | CHDI's Jeff Vanderploeg with other Connecticut CHLN team members Fatmata Williams (CT DSS); Nicole Taylor, Tina Jefferson, and Frank Gregory (CT DCF); and Catherine Foley Geib of CSSD in Seattle (Photo courtesy of AECF) | | Earlier this month, President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg traveled to Seattle for the first joint seminar of the fourth cohort of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Children's Health Leadership Network (CHLN). Connecticut team members joined in the learning experience with colleagues from the State of Hawaii. The focus of the three-day seminar was to gain a deeper understanding of the system of care framework; strategies for leading system change; and developing and refining goals, target populations, and data indicators that will guide the team’s efforts. | | Supporting Community Partners | | CHDI's Jeana Bracey and Yecenia Casiano with Marissa and Miguel Cardona (l-r) | | CHDI was proud to be a Community Partner Sponsor of the Clifford Beers Community Care Center Inaugural Builders of Hope Luncheon on September 25th. Associate VP of School and Community Initiatives Jeana Bracey, PhD, and Senior Project Coordinator Yecenia Casiano, MS, attended the event. Keynote speaker Dr. Miguel Cardona, the 12th U.S. Secretary of Education and former Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Education, discussed the important role of schools in supporting student mental health and well-being and connecting with community resources to build integrated systems of care. | | Christina Stephens Joins FFT-FC Performance Improvement Center | | |
A warm welcome to Christina Stephens, DSW(c), LCSW, who joined CHDI this month as Senior Project Coordinator for the new Functional Family Therapy - Foster Care (FFT-FC) Performance Improvement Center.
Christina brings over a decade of experience in child welfare, clinical consultation, and systems change initiatives. Her expertise includes trauma-informed care, family engagement, and evidence-based practice implementation, with a strong focus on equity and family preservation. We're fortunate to have her on the team!
| | | Recognizing a Longtime Board Member | | This month, Galo Rodriguez completes his final year of service to the CHDI Board of Directors. President & CEO Jeff Vanderploeg penned this tribute in recognition of his nine years of service to the organization: | | |
For nine years, Galo has been a steady voice of leadership, guiding the organization through a variety of challenges and opportunities. Galo was the past President & CEO at The Village for Families & Children, and is a local and national leader in children’s behavioral health. He brought that significant expertise to bear on the organization, offering his wisdom and insight to strengthen CHDI and enhance the Board.
Galo has always understood the important role of systems, practices, and policies and how they shape and impact the lives and the well-being of children and families. As a Board member, he used those critical insights to guide CHDI to where it is today. Galo served on the Executive & Governance Committee as CHDI Board Secretary and was also a long-time member of the Finance, Investments, and Audit Committee.
In addition to his technical expertise, Galo was always quick to offer words of kindness, encouragement, and support, and we all enjoyed his enthusiasm and sense of humor. We will miss you, Galo! Thank you for your service to CHDI and enjoy this next phase of life!
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