Conclusion of the Juvenile Justice TF-CBT Learning Collaborative

Connecticut’s Juvenile Justice staff in Hartford, Bridgeport and Middletown court districts are now working closely with local mental health providers to address the impact of trauma in the lives of justice-involved youth.  Beginning last September, CHDI in partnership with the Court Support Services Division (CSSD) of the Judicial Branch brought together Juvenile Probation Officers (JPOs), staff from the Child Youth Family Centers (CYFSCs), and clinicians from area behavioral health agencies for a year-long process of learning and collaboration to improve trauma-focused services. Youth in the justice system now have access to Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a research-based treatment that has shown to improve outcomes for youth. The Juvenile Justice TF-CBT Learning Collaborative resulted in the following changes:

• JPOs and CYFSC staff are screening the youth they work with for trauma exposure and referring them to trauma focused treatment if appropriate,

• Children’s behavioral health clinicians in the three court districts are offering TF-CBT to the youth referred.

This is the 7th TF-CBT Learning Collaborative coordinated by CHDI and the second one geared towards children in the juvenile justice system. This Learning Collaborative was funded by the Department of Children and Families and CSSD. TF-CBT is now widely available to children and families at approximately 50 mental health provider sites throughout the state. To search available locations visit: http://www.kidsmentalhealthinfo.com/parents-caregivers/find-a-mental-health-provider-in-ct/.

2015-2016 JJ TF-CBT Learning Collaborative Participants and Faculty