In this month's newsletter, we invite social work employers to join a focus group, share the latest post in our series on strengthening Connecticut's behavioral health workforce, and highlight opportunities for schools to enhance student mental health supports.
You'll also find a collection of resources for Mental Health Awareness Month, recent media coverage, and more. Plus, we're hiring!
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Blog: The Ripple Effect of Behavioral Health Workforce Shortages in Intermediate Levels of Care for Children | |
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Just as delays at one subway stop can affect the entire line, delays at any level of the behavioral health care system for children and youth can have a ripple effect across all other services.
In the latest in our special series on Connecticut's behavioral health workforce challenges, Senior Associate Aleece Kelly, MPP explains how delays at intermediate levels of care are having a particularly widespread, systemic impact:
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From the Archives: Increasing Access to Mental Health Services for Young Children | |
Early childhood is a critical time for building the foundation for mental and behavioral health. However, young children are less likely than older children to receive intervention and treatment for trauma and other concerns.
That's why this Mental Health Awareness Month, we're revisiting this recent Issue Brief in which co-authors Kellie Randall, Ph.D and Jason Lang, Ph.D identify effective strategies for strengthening mental health promotion and prevention efforts and ensuring access to high-quality services for young children.
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Employers of Social Workers: Share Your Experiences! | |
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Do you hire or supervise social workers in Connecticut? We want to hear from YOU!
As part of the State of Connecticut's CT Health Horizons initiative, CHDI will be conducting virtual focus groups this June with employers of social workers regarding their experiences with recruitment and retention. Your participation will help the state strengthen and support this critical workforce.
Open to anyone who hires or supervises social workers in Connecticut. Participants will receive $50 Amazon gift cards. Register by June 10th!
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New Legislation Expands Telehealth Access | |
Connecticut families and behavioral health providers will benefit from new telehealth legislation making the state's pandemic-era telehealth benefits and flexibility permanent.
The bill prevents insurance companies from paying less than in-person rates, includes audio-only services, and allows clinicians to provide telehealth care from wherever they are. These provisions promote better and more equitable access to treatment, as noted in a 2021 CHDI Policy Brief.
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In addition, out-of-state providers will now be required to apply for state approval and meet state licensing and other requirements. The new law will help expand access to high-quality, licensed behavioral health care for Connecticut families and is a step forward in protecting the state's behavioral health workforce, which is under tremendous strain. | |
Reminder: Opportunities for Connecticut Schools & Districts to Enhance Student Mental Health Services | |
The end of the school year is in sight, but many school and district leaders are already planning for 2024-25. When it comes to planning for student mental health, CHDI and the Connecting to Care initiative can help! | |
CONNECTing Schools to Care IV Students (CONNECT IV) | |
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CHDI is still accepting applications from Connecticut schools and districts (K-12) to participate in CONNECT IV, a new federally-funded student mental health initiative.
By providing no-cost training, technical assistance, quality improvement support, and funding incentives, CONNECT IV will help schools strengthen collaboration with community services, increase behavioral health knowledge, implement trauma-informed practices, and foster a culture that promotes well-being for all.
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Help Pilot a New Student Peer Support Model | |
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There are still a few spaces left for Connecticut middle or high schools to pilot a new student peer support model! CHDI developed the new model for schools based on best practices from across the country.
Participating schools will receive ongoing training and support from CHDI and a stipend upon completion.
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To learn more about CONNECT IV or the Peer Support Pilot, contact Project Coordinator Mackenzie Wink, Ph.D. at mwink@chdi.org or visit our website. | |
Positive Feedback for Trauma ScreenTIME Courses | |
Initial feedback for CHDI's Trauma ScreenTIME courses has been overwhelmingly positive!
In a post-course survey, many participants shared that they:
- Gained a deeper understanding of the effects of trauma on children and youth
- Felt better prepared to discuss trauma with the families they work with
- Were able to identify youth with previously unreported trauma exposure through screening
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These free, online courses were designed to teach child-serving professionals in a variety of settings about the effects of trauma on children and how to develop effective trauma screening processes for their organizations. They are appropriate for any child-serving staff - not just those with clinical training. Continuing education credits are available! | |
CHDI's Trauma ScreenTIME initiative is a National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Category II grantee, funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). | |
Lending Our Mobile Crisis Expertise to New Project in Texas | |
CHDI recently began working with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Texas to support the rollout of eight Youth Crisis Outreach Teams (YCOT), which will provide community-based crisis de-escalation, ongoing crisis stabilization support, and connection to additional mental health resources. Drawing from our experience as Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Performance Improvement Center and mobile crisis consultation in six other states, CHDI will support Meadows in hosting a best practice summit and learning community for the outreach teams. Stay tuned for more on this project in next month's newsletter! | |
CT Mirror Highlights Impact of Shortages in Intermediate Levels of Care | |
CT Examiner Covers CHDI Recommendations on Sustainable Funding for 988 and Other Crisis Services | |
On May 27th, the CT Examiner ran a story on how a wireless surcharge could help Connecticut sustainably fund the 988 Lifeline and other crisis services, similar to the way we fund 911. Eight other states have already enacted this type of surcharge.
The story quoted CHDI CEO Jeff Vanderploeg, Ph.D as well as Wellmore Behavioral Health CEO Gary Steck, LMFT who recently co-authored a CHDI Policy Brief on this topic.
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Mental Health Awareness Month Resources | |
To close out Mental Health Awareness Month, we pulled together some resources to help providers, educators, policymakers, parents and caregivers support the behavioral health and well-being of children and youth: | |
The Connect4Families Toolkit simplifies access to behavioral health services and facilitates collaboration among families, providers, and schools. It includes a directory of Connecticut services. | |
The Assisted Intervention Matching (AIM) Tool asks questions to match you with appropriate behavioral health services in Connecticut for specific child or family behavioral health needs (for use by providers or caregivers). | |
KidsMentalHealthInfo.com has a directory of national and state resources and a wealth of information on youth behavioral health for families and providers. | |
FAVOR, Inc. is a statewide, family-led nonprofit organization committed to empowering families as advocates and partners in improving educational and health outcomes for children. | |
African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities (AFCAMP) educates, trains, and supports parents and youth to become active participants in their education and care and advocates for equitable system reforms in Connecticut. | |
CT Family Support Network (CTFSN) empowers individuals and families to be their own best advocate and provides support to families raising children with disabilities and special healthcare needs, including behavioral health challenges, through the life span. | |
Reminder: If you or someone in your care is experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 211 (in CT) for free, confidential, 24/7/365 support. In CT, mobile crisis services are available to come to you. | |
CHDI staff have been busy traveling around Connecticut and beyond to share research, best practices, and resources to improve children's behavioral health systems and practices. We even found a little time for fun! Here are a few places we've been recently: | |
On May 2nd, Associate VP of School & Community Initiatives Jeana Bracey, Ph.D was the keynote speaker at the CT Family Support Network's annual One Voice Conference on “Transitions Through the Lifespan.” | |
In mid-May, Chief Program Officer Jason Lang, Ph.D & Senior Associate Brittany Lange, DPhil, MPH presented on Trauma ScreenTIME at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network's All-Network Conference (pictured with co-presenter Lisa Girard of FAVOR, Inc.). | |
Dr. Bracey also presented at the May 29th Transforming Children's Behavioral Health (TCB) Policy and Planning Committee meeting. She provided an overview of best practices in school mental health that CHDI is currently advancing in partnership with the State of Connecticut and highlighted system-level opportunities to support school behavioral health needs. Watch recording. | |
On May 9th, Associate VP of Quality Improvement Kellie Randall, Ph.D and Senior Associate Kayla Theriault, MPH presented at the American Association of Suicidology’s Annual Conference in Las Vegas. They gave an overview of CT’s Crisis Continuum for youth and its alignment with SAMHSA’s national guidelines, with a focus on the role of Mobile Crisis and Urgent Crisis Centers in suicide prevention and "post-vention." | |
Project Coordinator Jaime Brown, MSW presented at the Connecticut State Department of Education statewide school social worker Community of Practice. She shared CHDI's work disseminating evidence-based practices for schools (such as CBITS and Bounce Back) and resources we offer. | |
As part of CHDI's ongoing internal work to promote cross-cultural understanding and anti-racism, Data Analyst Kara Vlahcevic, MS recently led a staff culture-sharing activity on the Ukrainian tradition of pysanky, intricately decorated eggs typically created around springtime and Easter. | |
Are you passionate about improving children's behavioral health systems, policies, and practices? Join one of the "Best Places to Work in Connecticut"!
CHDI is seeking a Project Coordinator to support the development of online, asynchronous trainings related to children’s behavioral health. This is a full-time, limited-term position funded through September 30, 2025.
All roles offer competitive salaries with excellent benefits (see job descriptions for details) and a hybrid work schedule.
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The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing effective and integrated system, practice, and policy solutions that result in equitable and optimal behavioral health and well-being for children, youth, and families in Connecticut and beyond.
Is there anything you want us to cover in future newsletters? Let us know here.
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