CHDI NEWSLETTER
March 2021
New Sites Added to CHDI's Map of Trauma-Informed Treatments for Children in Connecticut
CHDI has updated our map of trauma-informed treatments for children with new sites offering TF-CBT, MATCH, CBITS, and/or Bounce Back. The evidence-based treatments on this map are those disseminated or supported by CHDI with major funding from the Department of Children & Families, Judicial Branch’s Court Support Services Division, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and RWJ Foundation. These treatments and providers can also be found in the searchable public Evidence-Based Practices Directory. Information about available treatments, outcome data, and a link to the directory can be found in our evidence-based treatment infographic. Learn more.
Training for Schools and Staff on Trauma Screening
Screening children for trauma in everyday settings such as schools, child care, and primary care can play an important role in identifying and supporting children who have experienced trauma.

CHDI is developing training materials to help child-serving systems implement screening through the Trauma ScreenTIME initiative. The trainings developed by ScreenTIME will be available in Connecticut and nationally through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network at the end of 2021. Until that time, CHDI is offering some virtual training opportunities in trauma screening, particularly for larger groups of 20 or more staff and/or for staff who plan to begin trauma screening soon. If you would like more information about a training for your group, please contact Brittany Lange at lange@uchc.edu.
In case you missed it ...

Issue Brief 80 - Improving Student and Staff Well-Being During COVID-19 and Beyond: Connecting Social Emotional Learning with Anti-Racism and Equity
The pandemic has increased the urgency among school administrators to address student and staff behavioral health and wellness, which frequently includes social-emotional learning (SEL). Concurrently, the national call for racial justice has highlighted the need for schools and public institutions to address the discrimination and racism experienced by students and staff. Although SEL programs have consistently been found to be effective, most do not explicitly address racism, discrimination, and inequities.

This Issue Brief explores strategies to ensure that SEL curricula, as well as broader school approaches to wellness, incorporate principles of equity and anti-racism.
Encouraging Healthy Feeding Practices in Young Children
UCONN Allied Health Sciences developed information for parents of young children to encourage healthy eating and prevent obesity. The messages were developed with input from parents in East Hartford to address common feeding behaviors and improve feeding practices and focus on: 

  • identifying and decreasing intake of sweetened beverages that parents may not consider “sugary drinks”

  • implementing strategies to support toddlers in regulating the amount of food they eat, i.e., responsive feeding

  • encouraging healthier toddler snacks and family meals. 

Fact-based food and nutrition resources and tips for parents and caregivers are now available in English and Spanish on UCONN's Healthy Family CT website. The project was supported by a grant from CHDI, the Connecticut Health Foundation and Newman's Own Foundation and summarized in Issue Brief 78 - Promoting a Healthy Weight from Birth.
Mental Health Weekly Highlights Strategy for Broadening Reach of Evidence-Based Children's Mental Health Treatments
A new Mental Health Weekly article explores CHDI's Issue Brief on using a Train-the-Trainer approach for disseminating evidence‐based treatments (EBTs). Although EBTs are considered best practices, making them widely available for children and families in community and clinical settings has proven challenging. The Issue Brief and article discuss a promising strategy for expanding the availability of EBTs so that more children and families can access high‐quality care. For more information, read CHDI's Issue Brief 79 - Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Children’s Behavioral Health Treatments: Role of a Train-The-Trainer Approach and the Mental Health Weekly article.
Board News
CHDI Welcomes Newly Elected Board Member Maryellen Doyle
Maryellen Doyle is an experienced investment professional who will serve as Treasurer for CHDI's Board of Directors. She is a vice president in the investor relations group at Landmark Partners, a private equity firm in Simsbury Connecticut. Prior to joining Landmark in 2019, she spent 14 years with Morgan Stanley Investment Management where she served as an executive director of U.S. consultant relations, a portfolio specialist for Alternative Investment Partners, and as a member of the firm’s Strategic Client Group. Maryellen is a founding member of the Providence College “PC to Wall Street” Council. She earned an M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communications from New York University and a B.A. in Humanities from Providence College.
Resources
Talking to Children About Racism

The news of anti-Asian and anti-Black racial violence around the country this past year has been heartbreaking. Having conversations with kids about it is essential, but it's not always easy. View resources intended to guide conversations with children about racism and social justice.  
COVID-19 Resources
We are continuously updating CHDI's general COVID-19 resource list. Newly added information and resources include:


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