Project Grant H79SM085006

UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES EXPANSION OF CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS SCREENING AND TREATMENT SERVICES - UNITED COMMUNITY AND FAMILY SERVICES, INC. (UCFS) PROPOSES EXPANSION OF CHILD TRAUMATIC STRESS SCREENING AND TREATMENT SERVICES TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF SCREENING, REFERRAL AND TREATMENT OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-6 LIVING IN NEW LONDON AND WINDHAM COUNTIES OF CONNECTICUT (CT) WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THOSE LIVING IN WINDHAM COUNTY WHICH IS MORE RURAL, ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED, AND LACKS ADEQUATE SOCIAL SERVICES. WITHIN THIS AGE GROUP, THE PROJECT AIMS TO IDENTIFY EVIDENCE OF ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACE)S, AND INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL DIFFICULTIES AND/OR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS. THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO INCREASE SCREENING, EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF YOUNG CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. THE WORK WILL FOCUS ON IDENTIFYING CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE ACES AND CONNECTING THOSE CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION AND CLINICALLY APPROPRIATE TREATMENT. TO ACHIEVE THIS, OUR PROJECT PROPOSES TO TRAIN PRIMARY CARE (PC), DENTAL, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (BH) PROVIDERS BOTH WITHIN OUR FQHC AS WELL AS OUTSIDE PROVIDERS ELSEWHERE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA TO UTILIZE SCREENING TOOLS TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN WITH BH NEEDS. A LYNCHPIN OF THE WORK WILL BE THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST WHO WILL RECEIVE DIRECT REFERRALS FROM PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS AND WILL ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THAT PREVENT MANY LOCAL CHILDREN IN ACCESSING BH TREATMENT INCLUDING THE RURAL, ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED COMMUNITIES IN NORTHEAST CT WHERE SOCIAL SERVICES DO NOT EXIST IN ADEQUATE PROPORTION TO THE NEED. GOALS: - TRAIN PEDIATRIC PROVIDERS ON THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. - INCREASE USE OF PEARLS SCREENING FOR TRAUMA IN CHILDREN AGES 0-6 - ENGAGE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SCREENING AND REFERRAL TO TRAUMA TREATMENT - INCREASE ACCESS TO EVIDENCE BASED TRAUMA TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN 0-6 AND THEIR CAREGIVERS. OBJECTIVES: - PROVIDE TRAININGS FOR UCFS CLINICAL STAFF AND COMMUNITY PROVIDERS ON THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA AND THE KEY COMPONENTS OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. - TRAIN UCFS PROVIDERS ON USING CHDI'S SCREENTIME TOOL TO ASSESS BH NEEDS AS WELL AS PEARLS SCREENING TOOL - SCREEN CHILDREN AGES 0-6 FOR ACES IN UCFS' PEDIATRIC PC, DENTAL, AND BH DEPARTMENTS - REFER CHILDREN WITH A TRAUMA ENDORSED PEARLS TO UCFS' BH DEPARTMENT FOR TREATMENT - PROVIDE ARC AND COS TREATMENT TO CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE REFERRED TO TREATMENT. OVER THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, UCFS PLANS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SCREENED, REFERRED AND/OR TREATED FOR ACES BY 10% ANNUALLY FOR A TOTAL OF 375 OVER THE COURSE OF THE GRANT (YEAR 1: 53, YEAR 2:70, YEAR 3: 77, YEAR 4: 84, YEAR 5: 91) AND PLANS TO TRAIN A TOTAL OF 212 PROVIDERS IN ACES SCREENINGS (YEAR 1: 22, YEAR 2: 45, YEAR 3: 45, YEAR 4: 50, YEAR 5: 50).