Trauma-informed systems
Learn how we're helping child-serving systems become more trauma-informed, improve early identification of children with traumatic stress, and increase the number of children receiving evidence-based treatment so they can recover and thrive.
Building trauma-informed systems of care
Exposure to trauma is a significant public health concern. Research indicates that most children are exposed to potentially traumatic events (e.g. violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, accidents, and other life-threatening events and other forms of serious adversity (e.g. family mental illness, neglect, racism or discrimination) before they turn eighteen. While many children are resilient and recover with the support of caregivers and other supports, some will experience significant ongoing health, behavioral health, school, and social problems.
CHDI has made great strides in helping Connecticut build services and supports to address this serious concern. Since 2007, CHDI has collaborated with state and federal agencies, provider organizations, and families to advance comprehensive and effective trauma-informed systems of care. Together, we are helping transform child-serving systems to be more trauma-informed, improve early identification of children suffering from traumatic stress, and significantly increase the number of children receiving trauma-focused evidence-based treatment.
Our strategies
- Workforce development
- Expanding trauma screening
- Practice improvement and access to evidence-based treatments
- Cross-system collaboration
These changes are working. More members of the child-serving workforce are being trained to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to childhood trauma. More children suffering from traumatic stress are being screened and identified earlier, and more trauma-focused treatment options are available for those who need them.
Find providers offering evidence-based trauma treatments for children by searching the Connecticut Evidence-Based Practices Directory:
Examples of Building Trauma-Informed Systems
CONCEPT (The Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practices for Trauma)
Beginning in 2011, Connecticut launched a seven-year effort to transform the child welfare system to be trauma-informed. The majority of children in the child welfare system have been exposed to trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and chronic neglect, however emerging best practices for children exposed to trauma had not yet been implemented in Connecticut or nationally.
Today, Connecticut has made significant progress to ensure that children and families involved in the child welfare system are identified and have access to high-quality services.
Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC)
From 2016-2022, CHDI's Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC) expanded trauma-focused treatments and services for children ages 0-7 in Connecticut. ECTC also helped Connecticut’s early childhood workforce identify and support young children and their families who may be experiencing traumatic stress.
CONCEPT (The Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practices for Trauma)
Beginning in 2011, Connecticut launched a seven-year effort to transform the child welfare system to be trauma-informed. The majority of children in the child welfare system have been exposed to trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and chronic neglect, however emerging best practices for children exposed to trauma had not yet been implemented in Connecticut or nationally.
Today, Connecticut has made significant progress to ensure that children and families involved in the child welfare system are identified and have access to high-quality services.
Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC)
From 2016-2022, CHDI's Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC) expanded trauma-focused treatments and services for children ages 0-7 in Connecticut. ECTC also helped Connecticut’s early childhood workforce identify and support young children and their families who may be experiencing traumatic stress.