Events, Resources & Updates |
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The 15th Annual Evidence-Based Practice Conference Focused on Rebuilding Children's Behavioral Health |
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CHDI was thrilled to host our 15th annual conference on Evidence-Based Practices for 460 registrants in person for the first time since the pandemic. This year's theme: “Rebuilding Children’s Behavioral Health Through Care & Innovation,” featured a keynote from Dr. Erum Nadeem (Rutgers University) on how we can build resilient and responsive systems for youth.
CHDI's Jack Lu, Director of Implementation, reflected on the progress Connecticut has made to expand and sustain evidence-based treatments for children and families.
- In 2007, the Connecticut Trauma-informed EBP network started with 11 sites and approximately 35 clinicians.
- To date, over 830 clinicians across more than 332 sites have been trained across eight trauma-informed EBTs
- 20,156 children have received an EBT since 2008 as a result of this work
The conference provided 38 professional development workshops led by behavioral health professionals and national experts on various children's behavioral health topics, including trauma, racial trauma, EBTs, measurement-based care, social justice, school mental health, and more. Attendees included behavioral health providers, school personnel, child welfare and judicial staff, policymakers, and administrators. Funding for the conference was provided by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the State Of Connecticut Judicial Branch.
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Dr. Erum Nadeem gave the keynote address, "Building Resilient and Responsive Systems for Children and Adolescents"
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Pictured left to right: CHDI's Tiffany Franceschetti, Jack Lu, and Jeff Vanderploeg, Erum Nadeem (Rutgers University), Julie Revaz (CT Judicial Branch), and Crystal Williams (CT Department of Children and Families)
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A special thank you to CHDI's Lori DiPietro and Tiffany Franceschetti, who led the planning for the conference.
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Thank you to the CHDI staff who helped ensure the conference ran smoothly. |
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EBT Spotlight: CBITS and Bounce Back |
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In our latest Evidence-Based Treatment (EBT) Spotlight Video, we look at Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS), used with youth in grades 5 - 12, and its K-6 adaptation, Bounce Back. These school-based group interventions reduce symptoms of PTSD in children and youth who have experienced trauma.
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To learn more about CBITS & Bounce Back and how CHDI can help your school implement these and other evidence-based treatments, visit www,chdi.org/cbits.
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Resources Available to Support Students' Mental Health |
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At a time when many youth are struggling with their mental health, many schools are building their capacity to support students' emotional well-being.
Schools and districts don't have to figure this out on their own! Free training, technical assistance, resources, and tools are available to help schools plan, implement, strengthen, and assess their mental health services.
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CHDI is Developing Training on Trauma Sensitive Practices |
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CHDI is partnering with the Minnesota Department of Education to develop an online training series for early childhood intervention practitioners in Minnesota. The training series fosters an understanding of how children and their caregivers are impacted by trauma. It will build practitioners’ competencies in identifying signs and symptoms of traumatic stress and provide strategies to work with children and families in supportive ways to mitigate the effects of trauma. The series includes foundational models to help practitioners implement trauma-informed and healing practices in their programs, as well as advanced training modules specific to in-home work, classroom-based work, and leadership. |
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Screening Youth for Anxiety & Depression Amid Care Shortages |
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CHDI's President and CEO, Jeff Vanderploeg, was interviewed for a recent Connecticut Magazine article on screening children for anxiety and depression in pediatric primary care and the struggle to find care due to the ongoing behavioral health workforce shortage.
In the article, Jeff discusses the challenges facing the behavioral health workforce and outlines priorities for behavioral health system expansion:
The pandemic widened the cracks in the children’s behavioral health system and diminished its capacity to meet families’ needs. Record numbers of youth are experiencing behavioral health concerns, and at the same time, clinicians are leaving the field, citing low wages and burnout...
Connecticut needs service expansion in areas that align with the needs of youth and families.We should prioritize efforts to expand prevention, early intervention, and treatments with the strongest evidence of effectiveness. These strategies have the best chance to improve outcomes and achieve long-term cost savings.
-- Jeff Vanderploeg, President and CEO, CHDI
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Look for the article in the June issue of Connecticut Magazine or read it online at CT Insider.
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Podcast Explores Restorative Justice and the School-Based Diversion Initiative |
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CHDI's Jeana Bracey and Yecenia Casiano discussed restorative justice and the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) in a podcast hosted by the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health. SBDI is a school-level intervention that reduces juvenile justice involvement and improves student mental health.
In the interview, Bracey shared ways restorative discipline practices can transform a school community:
We want teachers and school staff asking, "What happened?" not "What's wrong with you?" which is a key restorative principle. We want teachers and school staff to have tools at their disposal to be able to de-escalate conflict, improve communication and collaboration, and do it in a supportive way that builds community.
-- Jeana Bracey, Ph.D., Associate VP for School & Community Initiatives.
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Listen to the episode or read the transcript here.
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Seeking Feedback on CT's Behavioral Health Workforce |
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CHDI has contracted with the State of Connecticut to develop a statewide strategic plan to address the children's behavioral health workforce shortage and ensure a sustainable workforce for the future. |
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As part of this effort, CHDI is conducting focus groups with families, providers, and youth with experience in one or more of the following care settings in Connecticut:
- Intensive Outpatient
- Partial Hospitalization
- Extended Day Treatment
- Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities
In addition to learning more about experiences accessing, receiving, and providing intermediate and higher levels of care, we are also looking for families to talk more broadly about their experiences with any level of care, including outpatient care.
If you are interested in participating, contact Aleece Kelly at akelly@chdi.org.
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Learn more about our work to strengthen the children's behavioral health workforce.
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Staff News and Job Opportunities |
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Annie Winneg Joins CHDI as Senior Project Coordinator |
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Annie Winneg, MPH, joined CHDI as Senior Project Coordinator. In this role, she leads the development of a training series around trauma-sensitive practices for early childhood interventionists. Annie is a recent graduate of the Yale School of Public Health where she earned an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences, specializing in Maternal and Child Health Promotion. Prior to joining CHDI, her professional experience includes direct-service work in diverse healthcare settings as well as non-profit program development and evaluation.
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Kellie Randall is Promoted to Associate Vice President for Quality Improvement |
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Congratulations to Kellie Randall, PhD, on her promotion to Associate Vice President for Quality Improvement. Kellie joined CHDI in 2015 and most recently served as Director of Quality Improvement. In this role, she will continue to provide oversight for initiatives focused on trauma-informed and best practices in children's mental health with a specific focus on data analysis, reporting, and quality improvement. In addition, she will guide CHDI and support the Board of Directors as a member of the senior leadership team. Kellie holds a doctorate in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut.
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CHDI is hiring for the following positions:
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Child Health and Development Institute
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