Making a Difference for Children in Connecticut:
CHDI Celebrates Our Transition in Leadership |
After 18 years of leadership at CHDI, Judith Meyers stepped down as President and CEO, passing the torch to Jeffrey Vanderploeg. CHDI honored Judith for shaping CHDI into the organization it is today and celebrated Jeff's promotion to President and CEO at an event on October 5th in West Hartford. The event highlighted CHDI's contribution to children's health and well-being and outlined the organization's vision for the future.
During a panel discussion, Judith and Jeff refle
cted back on
what drew each of them to CHDI,
how CHDI and child serving systems have evolved over the years, and
what still needs to be done to improve health outcomes for children.
The panel discussion was
moderated by former CHDI legal counsel David Hadden and the e
vent
was hosted by CHDI Board Chair Margaret Grey and Children's Fund Board Chair Juan Salazar.
Click here
to learn more, view photos, or listen to audio from the event.
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| A Joint Effort to Advance Obesity Prevention in Connecticut |
CHDI's parent organization, the Children's Fund of CT, joined forces with the Connecticut Health Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation to award $194,884 in obesity prevention grants. Funding was awarded to UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, UConn Allied Health Sciences Club, Yale University, and Connecticut Children's Medical Center. The funded projects will aim to prevent obesity by improving early feeding practices for families from diverse socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, and across various early childhood settings. The grants will be administered by CHDI.
Learn more
about these projects and CHDI's work to ensure children grow up at a healthy weight.
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New Opportunity for CT Schools & Providers to Implement CBITS
(Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools)
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CHDI is pleased to announce an opportunity for providers and schools to implement Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS). CBITS is an evidence-based group intervention for children suffering from exposure to trauma, and is typically provided in school. Through funding from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, and in partnership with Dr. Sharon Hoover (CBITS Co-Developer), CHDI is the serving as the CBITS Coordinating Center. CBITS and/or Bounce Back (a CBITS adaptation for elementary school aged children) are currently available in at least nine Connecticut communities and at more than 45 schools. More than 800 children have received CBITS or Bounce Back to date with strong evidence of improved outcomes. Providers, schools, school-based health centers, and others offering services in school settings can receive all training, consultation, implementation support, data reporting, and quality assurance at no cost, and are eligible for performance-based incentive funding. For more information about implementing CBITS, please visit CHDI's web page and download the CBITS Welcome Packet.
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| CT's School-Based Diversion Initiative Spreads to Maryland |
CHDI will be embarking on a new project with the University of Maryland School of Medicine's
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
t
o disseminate the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) in 11 schools in Cecil County, Maryland. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Justice, will provide three years of support to CHDI to disseminate SBDI and researchers at the University of Maryland will examine the outcomes of SBDI for improving school climate and reducing school arrests, suspensions, and expulsions. Since 2009, SBDI has helped 37 schools in Connecticut reduce juvenile justice involvement among students with emotional or behavioral health challenges. Learn more at www.ctsbdi.org.
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| CHDI Staff Author New Chapters in National Reference Books |
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Honigfeld and Meyers Author "Medical Home and ASD" Chapter
Lisa Honigfeld and Judith Meyers authored a chapter on
Medical Home and ASD, in the Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders, edited by Fred Volkmar. The chapter reviews the components of medical home and discusses why this model of care is optimal for children with ASD. The literature on medical home and ASD is reviewed, concluding with several recommendations that can ensure children with ASD benefit from pediatric primary care from a medical home model.
Lang Authors Chapter on Trauma-Informed Care
Jason Lang co-authored a book chapter about trauma-informed care in the recently released APSAC Handbook on Child Maltreatment (4th Edition). The chapter, "Trauma-Informed Care: Definitions and Statewide Initiatives," synthesizes various definitions about trauma informed care and includes examples from several states, including Connecticut, that are implementing trauma-informed practices.
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| Vanderploeg Shares Vision for Children's Mental Health at NAMI CT Conference |
CHDI's President and CEO Jeffrey Vanderploeg delivered the keynote address at this year's
shared his outlook on children's behavioral health in Connecticut and encouraged families and youth to continue advocating for strong policies supporting children's healthy development and well being. Connecticut is working to redesign the many systems involved in children's behavioral health to improve access, quality, and outcomes for children. A range of home, community and school-based
trauma-informed evidence-based treatments are now available. Critical next steps involve establishing effective policies and integrating funding and service delivery across child-serving systems as envisioned in the
Connecticut Behavioral Health Plan for Children and the
CONNECT Initiative.
Learn more about CHDI's work to improve children's mental health in Connecticut.
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Job Opportunity: Communication Associate
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The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) seeks to hire a tech-savvy, communications professional with excellent writing and editing skills. The Communications Associate will assist the Vice President for Communications in managing our publications and websites and will develop social and digital media strategies that advance the organization's mission and build awareness through promotion of its core programs, priorities and positions. This is a part time 20 hours/week position.
Click here
for the job description and application procedures.
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Congratulations to Jason Lang
Congratulations to CHDI's
Jason Lang
who was promoted earlier this month to V
ice President for Mental Health Initiatives. He will lead CHDI's mental health initiatives including evidence-based practices (EBPs), trauma informed care, school and community programs, and policy and system development. Since joining CHDI in 2007 as a Program Associate, he has also held positions as Associate Director and Director of Dissemination and Implementation.
Click here
to read Dr. Lang's full bio.
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Celebrating Paulette James
CHDI staff participated in the American Cancer Society: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Sunday October 29th at the Bushnell Park in Hartford. Staff walked in honor of Paulette James, CHDI's Administrative Assistant. She is a five year breast cancer survivor.
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Farewell to Victoria Gasca
Victoria Gasca
l
eft CHDI after providing data analysis and
support for the
Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practice for Trauma (CONCEPT), a
five-year federally-funded initiative ending September 30, 2017. Victoria Gasca joined CHDI in January 2017 as a data analyst for CONCEPT. We wish Vict
oria success in her next endeavor.
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