Early connections/conexiones tempranas II (EC/CT II) will foster resilience and ameliorate the symptoms and consequences of trauma among marginalized children age 0-5 in waltham, MA and surrounding…

Early connections/conexiones tempranas II (EC/CT II) will foster resilience and ameliorate the symptoms and consequences of trauma among marginalized children age 0-5 in waltham, MA and surrounding communities. While serving a diverse population, EC/CT II will specialize in reducing disparities in access, utilization, and outcomes affecting latino immigrant families, addressing needs at the child, family, and community level. Trauma vulnerability is particularly high among EC/CT II's population of focus. The highest rates of poverty in massachusetts are among families with children 0-5, and young children are the most vulnerable population to trauma-exposure related to abuse and neglect. For latino children, the risk is even greater: while latino children comprise only 18% of the child population in the state, they represent 31% of children in out-of-home placements. In waltham alone, 53% of the city's 3,240 children under age 6 are living with foreign-born parents and experience multiple barriers to mental health treatment, including a lack of mental health services for children under 5 and a scarcity of bilingual/bicultural clinicians. EC/CT II addresses these many gaps and barriers with evidence-based trauma treatments and wrap-around support services. The project also works to reduce the toll on young children and their families from recent environmental stresses related to covid-19, immigration policy, and racial inequities, guided by the diversity-informed tenets for work with infants, children, and families. At the heart of EC/CT II's multi-level approach are two evidence-based practices (ebps) endorsed by nctsn: child parent psychotherapy and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. These ebps are complemented by other research-supported services designed to advance program goals, including circle of security-parenting groups, family support partners (peer coaches), and care management that addresses environmental stresses. To increase the capacity of local child-serving systems to provide trauma-informed care, EC/CT also provides consultation, training, and networking opportunities. EC/CT II's goals are: to increase access to and engagement in trauma-focused mental treatment of underserved children age 0-5; to foster their resilience and ameliorate the symptoms and consequences of trauma; and to increase the capacity of waltham-area service organizations to promote the recovery and resilience of trauma-exposed young children and their families. EC/CT II will directly serve 24-42 children and their families per year for a total of 180 children and families over five years. At least 10 child-serving systems will engage in EC/CT II consultation and training, and will also participate in BI-monthly meetings of the family resilience network of waltham, convened by the EC/CT II project director. The research team at the boston university school of social work will evaluate all aspects of EC/CT II, including outreach, engagement, assessment, treatment, wrap-around services, and training outputs and outcomes.