What We Do

• Help Children Recover from Trauma

  Meaningful Change

  
  Trauma-Informed Care

  We are building a comprehensive system of care to identify and treat children who experience traumatic events and toxic stress, and mitigate their harmful developmental effects. This includes universal trauma screening, development of a workforce to deliver evidence-based trauma treatment, and collaboration across Connecticut’s child-serving systems to implement trauma-informed practice and policy changes.

  
  Measurable Results

  In partnership with Connecticut DCF, CHDI has helped: disseminate evidence-based trauma treatments (TF-CBT, CFTSI, CBITS and MATCH) across Connecticut, develop the Connecticut Trauma Screen, and advance trauma-informed policies and practices across child-serving systems.
  
  

  Increased access for children and families to evidence-based trauma treatment 

  

  — Since 2007, trained more than 700 clinicians at 30 mental health sites across Connecticut to deliver TF-CBT

  — TF-CBT discharge results showed a significant reduction in PTSD symptoms.
  
  

  Increased the number of children screened for trauma exposure

  —  Developed the CT Trauma Screen, a brief 10-item measure that can be administered by clinical and non-clinical professionals to identify youth suffering from trauma exposure

  —  More than 2400 children were screened for trauma exposure by child welfare and juvenile justice staff since 2014

  — 600 child health providers were trained in CHDI’s EPIC trauma module (FY 2014 and FY 2015)
  
  

  Helped transform Connecticut’s child welfare system to be trauma-informed

  — DCF trained child welfare staff in trauma and modified policies to reflect trauma-informed practice: 2,300 DCF staff received training (Child Welfare Toolkit) and 34 policies and practice guides were revised

• Improve Mental Health Treatment

  Meaningful Change

  
  Evidence-Based Practices

  CHDI helps children’s mental health providers deliver the most effective treatment available by identifying evidence-based treatment models and bringing them to Connecticut. Our approach ensures these research-based models work in real-world settings, resulting in better outcomes for children and families.

  
  Measurable Results

   

  Increased the number of children benefitting annually from evidence-based trauma treatment by more than seven-fold (2008 to 2015)

  

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  — It is estimated that more than 10,000 children in Connecticut will have received an evidence-based trauma treatment by the end of SFY 2017

  Increased the number of clinicians trained to deliver an evidence-based children’s mental health treatment

  — Since 2007, 732 mental health clinicians have been trained to deliver an evidence-based trauma treatment in Connecticut

  — Expanded the presence of evidence-based treatments by helping to bring MATCH-ADTC to 16 Connecticut outpatient clinics, and CBITS to 18 Connecticut schools

   

   

   

• Build Schools' Capacity to Address Behavioral Health

  Meaningful Change

  
  School-Based Mental Health

  We help schools identify and connect students with behavioral health concerns to community-based services, decreasing the likelihood of suspension, expulsion or arrest, and promoting better academic outcomes and overall well-being. CHDI co-developed the Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) and is helping schools across the state reduce student arrests and address underlying behavioral health concerns.

  
  Measurable Results

  
  Helped schools reduce student arrests and address underlying behavioral health concerns through Connecticut’s School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI)

  — Among schools participating since 2010, the average reduction in court referrals during their first year was 45% and increase in EMPS (Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services) referrals was 94%. 
  
  

  

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  Helped Stamford Public Schools support student mental health

  — Worked with Stamford Public Schools to enhance professional development, improve policies, and implement an evidence-based trauma treatment (CBITS) and new quality improvement measures

• Transform Connecticut's Mental Health System

  Meaningful Change

  
  Children’s Behavioral Health Plan

  CHDI is working with state agencies, providers, and families to transform Connecticut’s behavioral health system. CHDI facilitated the development of a long-term plan for system reform and is advancing changes that will result in a higher quality, more comprehensive, and accessible system for children and families.

  
  Measurable Results

  
  Expansion of Connecticut’s mobile crisis services

  —  Through the implementation of the children’s behavioral health plan, DCF added clinicians to the statewide EMPS system to serve more children in need

  
  Improved coordination of mental health services across child-serving systems – “No Wrong Door” approach

  —  A new statewide infrastructure, a Care Management Entity (CME), was established and has begun to integrate funding and management of behavioral health services for children with serious behavioral health needs.

  —  As coordinating center for the State’s CONNECT Initiative, CHDI facilitated partnerships between families, communities, state agencies and service providers to address family engagement, data integration, network of care analysis, workforce development, cultural and linguistic competency, and social marketing through regional teams and six statewide committees.

   

What We Do

• Ensure Health Reform Benefits Children

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Ensure Health Reform Benefits Children

  Connecticut is in the process of implementing changes to our health care system that will promote health and improve efficiency. CHDI is engaged in this effort to assure the new system benefits children and their families.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Reformed system will support health promotion and early intervention for children

  Quality improvement measures that benefit children’s health, such as developmental and behavioral health screening were included in State health reform efforts.

• Initiate Systems Innovations

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Partnership with Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health

  We identify, test, and implement new and better ways to deliver child health services, so systems are more efficient and effective. CHDI initiated and supported the development of several innovations including care coordination collaboratives, mid-level developmental assessment, and primary care and subspecialty co-management. Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health is disseminating these innovations across the state and nation.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Increased the number of sites offering mid-level developmental assessments (MLDA)

  — MLDA was expanded from one to four sites across Connecticut, with plans for future statewide expansion. MLDA model is also being replicated in other states through Help Me Grow.
  
  

  Increased the number of child heath sites using care coordination

  — Care coordination collaboratives were established throughout Connecticut

  

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  Read more about care coordination collaboratives here.

  
  Increased early identification for mental health concerns

  — The number of behavioral health screenings billed to Medicaid by pediatric health providers for children ages 4-17 rose by 88% from 2014 to 2015 (8,000 to 15,000)

   

   

• Improve Pediatric Primary Care

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Educating Practices In the Community (EPIC)

  Our EPIC program gives providers information and tools to implement best practice changes. EPIC offers free office-based trainings and connects practices to local resources to help them better address their patients’ needs. We train providers on a range of topics including trauma, maternal depression, behavioral health, developmental screening, and lead exposure.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Increased primary care screening, early identification and treatment for developmental and behavioral disorders in children

  — The number of behavioral health screenings billed to Medicaid by pediatric health providers for children ages 4-17 rose 60% from 2014 to 2015 (9,419to 15,094) 
  
  

  

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  — Increased the number of developmental screens billed to Medicaid for children under age 3 by 65% (between 2013 to 2015). 

  

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  Trained health care providers across Connecticut on a range of best-practice topics

  Conducted 158 EPIC training presentations totaling 1,638 participants in FY 2014 and FY 2015 (some participants may be counted multiple times)

• Advance a Medical Home Model of Care

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Medical Home

  CHDI assists pediatric primary care practices in becoming recognized medical homes – accessible, family-centered, culturally competent primary care practices that are well coordinated with medical subspecialty and community services.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Increased the number of child health practices implementing quality improvement (in partnership with OCCH)

  90 Connecticut pediatricians completed a medical home quality improvement activity in 2014 and 2015

What We Do

• Construct Strong Foundations for Children

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health 

  The development of healthy social-emotional skills through secure attachment with a caregiver lays the foundation for a child’s mental health. CHDI is translating infant attachment research into practice changes and policy solutions by supporting the development of a workforce trained to advance the social and emotional development of children beginning in their earliest years.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Connecticut professionals were trained in infant and early childhood mental health

  The Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health (CT-AIMH), with support from CHDI, the Children’s Fund, and State agencies, provided competency-based training for professionals working with young children and their families. 

  —  CT-AIMH in partnership with CHDI trained 95 early care providers from center based early care and education settings, home care settings, and family resource centers in 2014 and 2015. Additionally, CT-AIMH reached over 800 professionals with trainings in 2014 and 2015.
  
  —  42 professionals earned the CT-AIMH Endorsement (IMH-E®) since 2011, with 48 more in the pipeline.
  
  —  150 child health providers and their staff were trained to screen for infant mental health in 2014 and 2015 through CHDI’s EPIC program.

   

  Increased the number of primary care providers screening for maternal depression at infant well-visits

  —  226 child health providers and their staff were trained to screen for maternal depression in 2014 and 2015 through CHDI’s EPIC program.
  
  —  The number of screens for maternal depression billed to Medicaid nearly tripled from 2013 to 2014 (878 to 2,588). Click here to learn more.

• Ensure Young Children Grow Up at a Healthy Weight

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Promote Healthy Weight and Prevent Obesity

  CHDI advances policies and develops strategies to ensure healthy nutrition beginning in the first years of a child’s life. Our work, based on scientific research, input from Connecticut stakeholders, and examples from other states, informs early childhood policies and promotes better practices to prevent the growing problem of childhood obesity.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Advanced policies, practices and research opportunities

  — The Children’s Fund of Connecticut awarded grants to fund obesity prevention projects related to data development, health messaging, policy development and advancing practices in keeping with the baby friendly hospital designation to promote breastfeeding.
  
  

  —  Engaged statewide partners in early childhood obesity prevention efforts. Numbers of policymakers, providers, researchers and others engaged more than doubled from 2014 to 2016.

  
  — Published a summary of evidenced-based interventions and promising practices related to obesity prevention in young children prepared by UConn Health - Center for Public Health and Health Policy.

   

• Help Children Stay on Track

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Developmental Screening

  CHDI is ensuring that developmental monitoring and screening are integral to health and early childhood services. We are collaborating with state agencies to design and build a system for monitoring children’s development and linking children to helpful intervention services as early as possible. Through our EPIC program, we train and support pediatric health providers to screen at well-child visits and support the Office of Early Childhood in promoting screening in early care sites.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Helped increase the number of children screened in primary care practices for developmental delays

  — The number of developmental screens billed to Medicaid for children under age 3 increased by 65% (between 2013 to 2015). 

  

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  — Trained more than 100 child health providers in developmental screening and/or autism screening through CHDI’s EPIC program

    

  Advanced developmental screening in early care and education programs

  — CHDI conducted a statewide needs assessment and issued recommendations to improve developmental screening in early care and education programs (Developmental Surveillance and Screening in Early Care and Education: Family and Provider Perspectives). This work helped guide the development of Connecticut’s Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems plan.

• Promote Health & Safety in Child Care

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Medication Administration Safety

  CHDI and the Children’s Fund of Connecticut have worked with Yale School of Nursing, the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood, and others to ensure safer child care for children needing medication by supporting the development of a high quality statewide system of medication administration training and consultation using nurse consultants.

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Increased number of child care sites trained in safe medication administration

  — 100 nurse trainers completed the CT Medication Administration in Early Education and Child Care Settings curriculum in 2013 and 2014

  — More than 200 child care centers received training from nurse consultants in safe medication procedures using the best practice curriculum and videos since 2015

• Engage Communities

  Meaningful Change
  
  

  Early Childhood Health Data Initiative

  Since 2008, CHDI has worked with more than 30 community coalitions participating in the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund’s (WCGMF) Discovery Initiative to integrate health and mental health components in their early childhood systems planning. This effort, which ended in 2016, was part of a funding partnership between WCGMF, the State of Connecticut, and the Children’s Fund of Connecticut. As part of this effort, CHDI worked with eight community coalitions to harness data from Connecticut Early Childhood Health Assessment forms (yellow forms).

   

  Measurable Results
  
  

  Developed the Keeping Children Healthy in Child Care Settings EPIC module

  — Trained 45 Head Start health managers to work with the primary care providers in their communities.

  Increased connection between early childhood collaboratives and child health providers in eight communities

Visit chdi.org to learn more.