Mobile Response for Children, Youth, and Families: Best Practice Data Elements and Quality Improvement Approaches
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A new resource is available to help mobile response programs develop effective continuous quality improvement (CQI) processes. The resource, developed by CHDI in partnership with the Innovations Institute at the UConn School of Social Work, includes:
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An overview of best practices for the collection and use of data for continuous quality improvement (CQI) in the context of family/youth- and system-level goals for Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS)
- Recommended data elements and activities for CQI at both the program and system level
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Annual Report: Outpatient Clinics Show Improvements in Access and Quality
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CHDI is helping a network of 22 state-licensed behavioral health clinics improve the quality and increase access to care for youth and their families. This past year, the number of children receiving behavioral health treatment from these clinics increased by 11%, despite significant workforce challenges affecting the behavioral health field. Almost 60% of children met their treatment goals, and outcomes were consistent across race and gender demographics. CHDI trained 155 clinicians to deliver children’s evidence-based treatments (TF-CBT, MATCH, CBITS), and children who received evidence-based treatments were more likely to meet their treatment goals than those who received treatment as usual.
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EBT Spotlight: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
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Our latest in the EBT Spotlight Series takes a look at TF-CBT |
Watch to learn how TF-CBT is helping children in Connecticut.
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To learn about TF-CBT training for mental health providers, find TF-CBT provider for your child in Connecticut, or learn about other evidence-based treatments for kids, visit https://www.chdi.org/ebt/
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Behavioral Health Resources |
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Help Youth Create a Plan to Support Their Mental Health |
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The State of Connecticut's Connecting to Care initiative has resources to help youth develop a plan to manage their behavioral health throughout the COVID pandemic.
A mental health plan includes a go-to list of things that make you feel better and the name of a trusted adult for support. Everyone's plan is unique.
CHDI serves as the Coordinating Center for the Connecting to Care initiative, which is working to improve children’s behavioral health by building an accessible and coordinated system or “network of care” for children and their families.
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Mental Health Awareness Month: 31 Days of Wellness Calendar |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It has never been more important to recognize that mental health is an essential component of one’s overall health and well-being.
This calendar was developed by the Connecting to Care CT initiative with support from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant funding. Follow Connecting to Care on Instagram and Facebook for daily wellness activities.
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Opportunity for Schools to Participate in CT's School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) |
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The Connecticut School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) works with schools and districts to reduce suspensions, expulsions, and arrests and improve connections to behavioral health services and support for students.
SBDI schools have reduced court referrals by 29% and connected 55% more students to behavioral health services. Since the initiative began, 65 schools in 23 districts have participated.
We are actively recruiting new schools and districts for next year! To learn how your school can participate, visit: www.chdi.org/sbdi or contact rbehan@chdi.org.
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Behavioral Health Updates |
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Forum on Youth Mental Health Focuses on Tackling Challenges |
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The forum "Child and Adolescent Mental Health: How Can CT Tackle this Public Health Challenge?" explored current challenges and possible solutions to improve equity, access, and outcomes for children with behavioral health needs. Jeff also moderated a panel of behavioral health leaders, including Alice Forrester of Clifford Beers Community Health Partners, Ann Smith of AFCAMP, Melissa Mendez of Wheeler Clinic, and Frank Gregory of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.
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2023 Legislative Recommendations Address the Children's Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage in Connecticut |
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The Children’s Behavioral Health Plan Implementation Advisory Board recently adopted recommendations for the 2023 legislative session to address the critical shortage of the children’s behavioral health workforce in Connecticut. CHDI developed the recommendations in consultation with an advisory group of providers, family advocates, and other stakeholders.
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They include these key short-term strategies:
- Adjusting reimbursement rates to reflect actual costs
- Removing unnecessary barriers to licensure and recruitment
- Funding high-impact short-term financial incentives
- Dedicating funding for longer-term strategies to increase and diversify the behavioral health workforce pipeline
Legislative action in these areas is critical to improving the availability of effective behavioral health services for children in the state. The recommendations emerged as part of a comprehensive initiative led by CHDI to develop a Children’s Behavioral Health Workforce Development Strategic Plan for the State of Connecticut, including short- and long-term strategies to strengthen the pipeline, recruitment, retention, and diversity of the children’s behavioral health workforce. We anticipate completing the full strategic plan in Fall 2023.
Learn more about our work to strengthen the children's behavioral health workforce.
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Seeking Feedback on CT's Behavioral Health Workforce |
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CHDI is conducting focus groups with families, providers, and youth with experience in one or more of the following care settings in Connecticut:
- Intensive Outpatient
- Partial Hospitalization
- Extended Day Treatment
- Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities
In addition to learning more about experiences accessing, receiving, and providing intermediate and higher levels of care, we are also looking for families to talk more broadly about their experiences with any level of care, including outpatient care.
If you are interested in participating, sign up here.
Learn more about our work to strengthen the children's behavioral health workforce.
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CHDI Welcomes Two New Staff Members |
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CHDI welcomes Kate Powers as Senior Project Coordinator. In this role, she will focus on strengthening Connecticut's behavioral health workforce and supporting CHDI's systems development work. Kate has extensive experience as a master’s level social worker in various settings and as an adjunct professor of Social Work and Psychology. Most recently, Kate was the Director of Youth Services for the Town of Suffield. She earned a master’s degree in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from St. Michael’s College.
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CHDI welcomes Jamie Brown as Project Coordinator. In this role, she supports CHDI's evidence-based practice dissemination and quality improvement initiatives in children’s behavioral health programs. Jamie has extensive case management experience in child welfare and juvenile justice and is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She helped to launch the first Multi-Gen program in Connecticut, designed to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. She has a master's degree in Social Work from Fordham University and a bachelor's degree in Social Work from Central Connecticut State University.
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CHDI is Growing - Join Our Team! |
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CHDI is hiring!
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2023-2024 Postdoctoral Fellowship to work on one or more initiatives focused on improving children’s behavioral health in Connecticut.
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Communications Associate or Manager to assist in developing and implementing communication strategies that advance CHDI's mission, programs, and priorities.
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Child Health and Development Institute
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