CHDI NEWSLETTER
New Video: CONNECTing Children & Families to Care 
CONNECTing Children and Families to Care Video
The new CONNECTing Children and Families to Care video highlights the State of Connecticut's efforts to blend and integrate child-serving systems into a Network of Care to equally and effectively serve all children and families. Connecticut's Network of Care Transformation (CONNECT) initiative is led by DCF with funding from SAMHSA's system of care expansion initiative. CHDI serves as the Coordinating Center for CONNECT.  Learn more  about this systems change work.
Obesity Prevention Grant Project Highlighted in C-HIT Article
Yale New Haven Hospital's Primary Care Center
aims to prevent obesity and empower families to make healthier nutrition choices beginning in infancy. In collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Public Health's WIC program, the program uses group well-child visits to share healthy food demonstrations with parents.  The project is one of four obesity prevention grants awarded by CHDI last year with funding from the Children's Fund of CT, Newman's Own Foundation, and the Connecticut Health Foundation and was recently highlighted in a  Connecticut Health Investigative Team article: "Yale Program Tackles Kids Obesity By Teaching Parents Healthy Eating Habits." 

Once obesity sets in it is difficult to reverse. Over the past several years there has been increased support for research dedicated to finding ways to prevent obesity. Learn more about CHDI's work to ensure children grow up at a healthy weight.
Honigfeld Co-authors Article in APA's Families, Systems and Health Journal
CHDI's Lisa Honigfeld co-authored an article  in the American Psychological Association's Families, Systems, and Health journal. T he article, entitled "Pediatric primary care providers' reported likelihood to refer to mental health specialist," evaluated factors associated with pediatric primary care providers' likelihood to refer hypothetical patients with depression or ADHD to mental health specialists. Results indicated that providers with less confidence in treating mental health concerns were more likely to report intentions to refer patients to a mental health specialist. Additionally providers reported that they would be more likely to refer a patient with depression than with ADHD to a mental health specialist. Training in developmental and behavioral pediatrics was not related to reported likelihood of referring. The findings suggest potential areas for further expanding pediatricians' knowledge and skills in addressing mental health concerns.
CHDI Discusses Health Care Reform on For the People Radio 
CHDI's Vice President for Health Initiatives Lisa Honigfeld sat down with John Voket on the radio show For the People to discuss how health reform in Connecticut can further children's health. CHDI is helping broaden the health reform conversation to go beyond strategies for efficiently managing expensive chronic diseases in adulthood (diabetes, heart disease) to keeping children healthy early in life, with life long implications. Supporting pediatric primary care providers' role in health promotion, prevention, and connection of children and families with community services can improve outcomes, prevent many chronic illnesses, and lower health care costs over the long term. 
 
Listen to Lisa discuss how CHDI's work is ensuring that pediatricians can effectively promote health, mitigate disparities, and support communities to help children in Connecticut.
CBITS & BounceBack! Expand to More Schools & Providers
Connecticut 's statewide CBITS initiative is expanding the network of schools and providers offering group-based treatment to students suffering from exposure to trauma. Si x new teams are joining in SFY 2019 and we continue to invite others to apply. Participation is free and sustainability funding is available based on performance.
  • Putnam Public Schools trained social workers in late June and will begin offering groups this Fall. 
  • Windham Public Schools will offer trauma-focused services and groups through a partnership with their School Based Health Clinics (SBHCs).
  • Stratford Public School System will train their social workers and psychologists to offer CBITS and BounceBack! groups and begin screening for trauma in all of their schools 
  • The LEARN Regional Educational Center district is piloting CBITS and BB in three of their schools this year with hopes of expanding into their entire magnet system. 
  • Boys and Girls Village of Milford will offer groups within their Extended Day Treatment Program
  • United Services will begin implementation within their Outpatient Psychiatric Clinics for Children (OPCC) with plans to expand to schools in Dayville and Willimantic.
The CBITS initiative is funded by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families as part of the State's effort to expand trauma-informed services to communities throughout Connecticut. CHDI serves as the CBITS Coordinating Center. For more information visit www.chdi.org/cbits.
Free Training Opportunities
Training for Pediatric Health Providers on Obesity Prevention 
Pediatricians can help prevent childhood obesity by promoting responsive feeding among families and identifying children at risk of being overweight.  CHDI's  Educating Practices in the Community (EPIC)  training series offers pediatricians and other pediatric health providers free practice change information on obesity prevention and a number of other topics.  Click here  for a full list of training topics and descriptions.
Free Course on Health Equity Planning 
Community mental health and non-profit organization staff are invited to join CONNECTing with CLAS consultants for a free "Health Equity Planning Crash Course" from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm on August 9 in Rocky Hill.  The training will provide an overview on developing and strengthening organizational plans to promote health equity and engage youth and families using the CLAS (Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services) standards. Over the past 4 years, the CONNECTing with CLAS initiative has helped 40 community mental health agencies and non-profits develop Health Equity Plans by participating in a six month cohort. A new accelerated cohort will be starting this Fall for interested agencies. This work is part of the State's CONNECTing Children and Families to Care initiative to improve children's behavioral health systems and services. CHDI serves as the Coordinating Center for CONNECT.  
Learn more  about the CONNECT initiative.
Staff News
Tiffany Franceschetti Promoted to Senior Project Coordinator
Congratulations to Tiffany Franceschetti who was promoted to Senior Project Coordinator. Tiffany will be coordinating CHDI's Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC) and will continue in her role leading the MATCH initiative and supporting CHDI's other evidence-based treatment and trauma-focused initiatives. Tiffany joined CHDI in 2014 as a TF-CBT Project Coordinator. She  is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received her M.S.W. from the UCONN School of Social Work in 2007.  Click here to read Tiffany's full bio.
Robey Champine Joins CHDI as Postdoctoral Fellow
CHDI welcomes Robey Champine as a Postdoctoral Fellow on implementation science and child trauma. She joined CHDI this month and is also completing a fellowship in the Division of Prevention and Community Research at the Yale School of Medicine. Robey completed her Ph.D. in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University in 2016. She has a Master of Public Health from UConn School of Medicine and a Master of Science in Criminology from the University of Pennsylvania. Robey earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Spanish from Smith College.   
Join Our Team: CHDI is Hiring 

CHDI is hiring for the following positions: 


CHDI seeks candidates with the education, experience and dedication to contribute to effective policies, systems, and practices that improve children's health and well-being.   
CHDI is committed to providing equal access 
to our employment environment and ensures 
that all employment-related decisions are 
in accord with the principles of equal opportunity.

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Child Health and Development Institute
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