CHDI NEWSLETTER
September 2024
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In this month's issue, learn about our new course on early childhood trauma screening, opportunities to share your ideas for strengthening behavioral health in Connecticut, a new mental health resource guide for schools, a recently-published journal article reviewing state behavioral health workforce policies nationwide, and more.
Plus, we're hiring!
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Trauma ScreenTIME Early Childhood Course Now Available | |
Early childhood trauma is more common - and can have a greater impact - than many people realize. That's why CHDI developed our new Trauma ScreenTIME Early Childhood Course, which teaches classroom teachers, home visitors, clinicians, and others who work with young children how to screen for trauma and connect families with supports and services to help them recover. The course is now available nationwide at no cost. CECs/CEUs are available! | |
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Trauma ScreenTIME is part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and was made possible through a NCTSI Category II grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The Early Childhood course is one of four Trauma ScreenTIME Courses currently available for child-serving settings. Learn more at www.traumascreentime.org. | |
Connecticut Needs Your Input and Ideas to Strengthen Behavioral Health Systems | |
Two opportunities to share your ideas and experiences to strengthen and improve behavioral health systems in Connecticut: | |
Share Your Suggestions for School-Based Mental Health | | |
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As part of a Comprehensive School Mental Health Landscape Analysis for the state of Connecticut, CHDI is conducting online surveys this fall with the following groups:
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School and District Leaders and Staff (Superintendents, Teachers, Paraeducators, School Nurses, etc.)
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Providers (Behavioral Health, Pediatric Primary Care, School-Based Health Center Staff, etc.)
- Parents/Caregivers and Students
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Tell us what’s working well, what could be improved, and your suggestions to support the behavioral health and well-being of all Connecticut K-12 students. Respondents will be chosen at random on a weekly basis to win a gift card! | |
Last Chance: Help Strengthen the Behavioral Health Workforce | | |
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Today (9/30) is the last day to take CHDI's survey of Connecticut behavioral health professionals! If you are a member of one of the following professions* and hold a CT license, please check your email for a survey link from survey@chdi.org:
- Marriage and family therapists
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Professional counselors
- Drug and alcohol counselors
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CHDI is conducting this survey to better understand the strengths and challenges this workforce is experiencing. If you did not receive a survey link, please contact Senior Associate Aleece Kelly at akelly@chdi.org.
*Social workers were previously surveyed. Open to CT-licensed clinicians working with any population/age group.
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One Space Remaining in Student Peer Support Model Pilot | |
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CHDI has developed a new peer support model, Students Supporting Students, for schools based on best practices from across the country. We are currently piloting it with three Connecticut schools during the 2024-25 school year:
- Lebanon Middle School (Lebanon)
- Lyman Memorial High School (Lebanon)
- Highville Charter School (New Haven)
We are still seeking one more school to join the pilot starting this fall! Pilot schools will receive training, technical assistance, a financial stipend, and exclusive access to our new Peer Support Guides.
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New Resource Guide for Connecticut Schools | | |
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The Connecting to Care initiative has released a new School Mental Health Resource and Support Guide to provide Connecticut schools and districts with up-to-date information about the many mental health resources and supports available to them, such as the CONNECT IV Students initiative, and resources to empower youth and families. | |
CHDI serves as the statewide Coordinating Center for Connecting Schools to Care IV Students (CONNECT IV), a four-year grant awarded to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Grant partners include the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, CHDI, Carelon Behavioral Health, FAVOR, Inc., and The Consultation Center at Yale. | |
New Journal Article Highlights State Policies to Address the Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage | |
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Chief Program Officer Jason Lang, Ph.D, Senior Associate Aleece Kelly, MPP, and colleagues Michael Hoge, Ph.D and Manuel Paris, Jr., Psy.D of the Annapolis Coalition on the Behavioral Health Workforce and Yale recently published a paper in the journal Psychiatric Services describing policy strategies enacted by states around the country to strengthen, grow, and diversify their behavioral health workforce.
The authors urge states to "seize this moment" while behavioral health has the nation's attention.
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Webinar: Building State-Local Partnerships for Comprehensive School Mental Health | |
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CHDI's Associate Vice President of School and Community Initiatives Jeana Bracey, Ph.D. and Senior Project Coordinator Rebekah Behan recently presented on a webinar hosted by the Innovations Institute's System of Care Leadership Learning Community for state and local children's behavioral health leaders from around the country. The recording is available on YouTube.
Bracey and Behan discussed successes and challenges in Connecticut's work building state and local education partnerships to promote comprehensive school mental health.
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CT by the Numbers Highlights Urgent Crisis Centers, CHDI's Quality Improvement Role | |
Proudly Supporting Our Provider Partners | |
Fall is a busy fundraising season for many of the nonprofit children's behavioral health providers we partner with around Connecticut. CHDI was proud to sponsor and attend events for several of our partners this month, including the Clifford Beers Builders of Hope Breakfast (featuring a keynote by all-time NCAA/WNBA great Chamique Holdsclaw, pictured above left with CHDI staff), golf tournaments benefiting Wheeler Clinic and Community Health Resources, and Carelon Behavioral Health's iCAN Conference. | |
Welcoming New Staff: Nicole Foster, LMSW | | |
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Nicole Foster, LMSW joined CHDI as a Project Coordinator this month. In this role, she will develop online trainings in children's behavioral health.
A social worker and former pediatric primary care nurse, Nicole brings a wealth of experience working to improve children's health and well-being as well as extensive experience training both providers and families. We're thrilled to have her on the team!
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Jeana Bracey, Ph.D shared mental health and crisis resources for schools with partners from the CT Department of Children & Families at the Bureau of Special Education's annual Back to School Meeting on September 6th. | |
Jason Lang, Ph.D and colleagues from around the country shared the latest research on child trauma screening at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) 40th Annual Meeting in Boston on September 27th. | |
Dr. Bracey and CHDI board member Wizdom Powell, Ph.D., MPH traveled to Washington, DC last week to attend The Kennedy Forum's Alignment for Progress conference. | |
Connecting at CHDI's Annual Staff Picnic | |
CHDI held its annual staff picnic on September 19th at Winding Trails in Farmington. Our growing team enjoyed reconnecting in-person over lunch, pickleball (shout out to Chief Program Officer Jason Lang for patiently providing another lesson this year!) and walking the trails in the beautiful fall weather. | |
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Want to join one of the "Best Places to Work in Connecticut"? We're hiring!
CHDI is seeking a Project Coordinator and Senior Project Coordinator to work on projects related to evidence-based practice dissemination and quality improvement initiatives in child and youth behavioral health, with a primary focus on substance use and co-occurring disorder programs (including the new SBIRT PATHS initiative).
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The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing effective and integrated system, practice, and policy solutions that result in equitable and optimal behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families in Connecticut and beyond.
Is there anything you want us to cover in future newsletters? Let us know here.
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