10th Annual Healing Connecticut's Children: The Trauma Focused Evidence-Based Practice Conference

Governor Dannel Malloy addressed 400 child mental health clinicians, child welfare and juvenile justice staff, educators, early care providers, and others at the 10^th annual Trauma Focused Evidence-Based Practice Conference: Healing Connecticut's Children on June 6 in Hartford. He thanked attendees and state partners for working with Connecticut over to provide effective trauma-informed care for Connecticut children. This work has resulted in stronger families and more resilient communities. 

As of January, 2018 more than 1,000 clinicians have been trained to deliver trauma informed evidence-based practices. They have provided services to over 10,000 children and families throughout Connecticut. 

The conference has been hosted annually (since 2008) by the Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI) to provide training and support for mental health clinicians as trauma-focused evidence-based practices were disseminated across the State. CHDI serves as the statewide implementation center for the dissemination of TF-CBT, MATCH-ADTC, CBITS, Bounce Back! and ARC. Funding for this work and conference comes from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the Court Support Services Division, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Children's Bureau, Grant #1609). 

In addition to Governor Malloy, the conference featured a panel discussion of experts from four state agencies moderated by CHDI's Jason Lang; as well as 34 breakout sessions run by children's mental health researchers and experts. Lisa Amaya-Jackson, a nationally prominent speaker and trauma expert, delivered the keynote address on the impact of trauma on children and state and national efforts to make a difference. Dr. Amaya-Jackson serves as Director of the Duke Evidence-based Practice Implementation Center and Associate Director of the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

Since 2007, CHDI has collaborated with State agencies, provider organizations and families to improve access to effective services for children suffering from exposure to trauma.  Together, we have developed a workforce in our state to deliver multiple evidence-based treatments to thousands of children and families each year; implemented trauma-informed policies, systems and practices in the child welfare, juvenile justice, and children’s mental health systems; developed a brief screen for childhood trauma (The Child Trauma Screen) for use by professionals in child-serving systems (e.g. pediatrics, child welfare, health, juvenile justice, mental health, education), and increased awareness through KidsMentalHealthinfo.com, a website for parents and caregivers.

View our Infographic: Addressing Childhood Trauma in Connecticut