CHDI NEWSLETTER
Issue Brief Highlights Opportunities for Engaging Pediatric Primary Care in the Early Identification of Child Trauma
Issue Brief 66
Pediatric primary care can play an important role in identifying and treating children exposed to trauma as one part of a comprehensive, state-level, public health approach to prevention, early identification, and access to evidence-based treatment.

This Issue Brief,  "Engaging Pediatric Primary Care to Address Childhood Trauma: Part of a Comprehensive Public Health Approach, " examines statewide policy opportunities and resources to boost the role of pediatrics in the early identification of child traumatic stress and connection to services. 

Read Issue Brief
New Report Provides Strategies to Decrease Youth Behavioral Health Emergency Departments Visits
ED Report
A new report: " Emergency Department Use by Connecticut Children with Behavioral Health Conditions: Improving Care and Promoting Alternatives, "   examines how youth are using emergency departments (ED) for behavioral health concerns and offers recommendations and financing strategies to promote alternatives and improve the quality of ED care. The report reflects input from a workgroup of family members, representatives of state agencies, hospitals, community behavioral health organizations, schools, and the Connecticut Hospital Association.  View the  full report   or read a  news release . The report executive summary is available in English and Spanish at  www.chdi.org . 
CT Mirror Article on Teen Suicide and Schools
An article in the Connecticut Mirror, " School-based health centers take leading role in fighting teen suicide," highlights the critical role that school-based health centers (SBHC) and CT's Mobile Crisis Intervention Services play in preventing teen suicide and connecting at risk children to the help they need.  The article also highlights CHDI's Educating Practices suicide module (developed by Dr. Steve Rodgers at Connecticut Children's Medical Center), which trains primary care providers in identifying and assessing suicide risk. 

Mental health visits now make up 41 percent of total visits to the school-based centers and school principals indicate that mental health is one of the most challenging unmet needs among their students.  Resources to help schools address student mental health can be found at www.chdi.org . Suicide prevention resources in Connecticut can be found at www.preventsuicidect.org.  
Jason Lang Co-authors Journal Articles on Trauma-Informed Care and Evidence-Based Treatment
CHDI's Vice President for Mental Health Initiatives, Jason Lang co-authored two journal articles. 

The first article, "Policy Change to Support Trauma-Informed Care in Child Welfare," appeared in APSAC Advisor, a publication of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. It outlines  Connecticut's development of a  trauma-informed child welfare policy, and includes recommendations for creating a policy review process for child welfare system and other child serving systems. The work was part of the Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practices for Trauma (CONCEPT)  initiative to develop a trauma-informed child welfare system. 
Children and Youth Services Review
The second article, " Barriers and consultation needs regarding implementation of evidence-based treatment in community agencies , " was published in Children and Youth Services Review. It describes a research study conducted among staff members of community mental health agencies in Connecticut involved in the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) initiative. The study assessed their perceptions of implementation and sustainment of trauma-focused evidence-based treatment. Findings suggested the importance of addressing client and structural barriers, staff turnover, and continued intervention trainings. 
Staff News
Annabelle Bass Joins CHDI as a New Data Analyst 

Annabelle Bass joined CHDI this month as a Data Analyst for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, or Conduct Problems (MATCH-ADTC). Prior to joining CHDI, Annabelle 
worked as a coach and mentor for high-functioning Autistic individuals at the Light House in Niantic, Connecticut. She has a Bachelors degree in Psychology and Criminology from Central Connecticut State University. 
CHDI is Seeking Applications for a Postdoctoral Fellowship
CHDI is accepting applications for a one-year Postdoctoral Fellowship with a focus on implementation science, childhood trauma, and/or school-based behavioral health. The selected Fellow(s) will work on one or more initiatives focused on improving children's behavioral health in Connecticut, such as dissemination and sustainment of evidence-based interventions, developing trauma-informed systems and programs, and/or school-based behavioral health initiatives.The Fellow(s) selected for this position will work within grant- and contract-funded projects at CHDI and The Consultation Center at Yale.  Click here  to read the job description and application instructions.
Join Our Team: CHDI is Hiring 
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