TF-CBT national adaptation and support center - the TF-CBT national adaptation and support center seeks to develop and provide training on a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded RU School of Osteopathic Medicine $599,935 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to develop and deliver training on a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) adaptation for youth with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.

The recipient will conduct a learning community with 15 TF-CBT-trained clinicians and supervisors, then deliver two learning collaboratives to 100 clinicians and supervisors across the network. The project will provide training, consultation, and technical assistance to TF-CBT providers treating youth ages 7 to 17 with comorbid PTSD and depression who have experienced sexual abuse, traumatic grief, and other traumas. Three train-the-supervisor programs will be offered to 75 TF-CBT supervisors from network sites, with an 80% attendance target. The project will develop an implementation manual and supporting resources including information sheets and webinars for this adaptation, and will be disseminated to support organizational sustainment of TF-CBT implementation. Clinical outcomes will be assessed using standardized measures of PTSD and depression reduction. The project is led by Elisabeth Pollio, PhD and Esther Deblinger, PhD, a TF-CBT co-developer, alongside co-developers Anthony Mannarino, PhD and Judith Cohen, MD.

Performance occurs in Stratford, New Jersey, with a period of performance through September 29, 2031.

TF-CBT national adaptation and support center - the TF-CBT national adaptation and support center seeks to develop and provide training on a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) adaptation to build capacity for effectively treating youth with comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and depression. To help sustain workforce capacity, TF-CBT train-the-supervisor (TTS) programs, and evidence-based practice courses and a course train-the-trainer (TTT) program will also be offered. Led by elisabeth pollio, PHD and esther deblinger, PHD, TF-CBT CO-developer, along with the other TF-CBT CO-developers, anthony mannarino, PHD and judith cohen, MD, this project, more specifically, seeks to address the GAP in effective services for youth with comorbid ptsd and depression by conducting a learning community with 15 TF-CBT-trained clinicians and supervisors and subsequently providing two learning collaboratives to 100 clinicians and supervisors from across the network. The population of youth with comorbid ptsd and depression has responded less well to evidence-based trauma treatment, have complex needs, and are potentially at higher risk for negative life trajectories. The learning community and collaboratives, led by the TF-CBT CO-developers, will provide training, consultation, and technical assistance to TF-CBT providers working with youth (ages 7 to 17 years) with comorbid ptsd and depression who have experienced sexual abuse, traumatic grief, and other traumas. Participants' clients will demonstrate reductions in ptsd and depression, as assessed by standardized measures. An implementation manual and other resources (e.g., information sheets, webinars) for this adaptation will be developed and disseminated. To support organizational sustainment of TF-CBT implementation, three TTS programs will be provided by the TF-CBT CO-developers to 75 TF-CBT supervisors from nctsi-III sites with 80% attendance, offering supervisory strategies for all TF-CBT components by the end of each program. As participation of the non-offending caregiver is a critical part of TF-CBT, there will be a focus in the learning community/collaboratives and TTS programs on caregiver voice and choice to ensure the caregiver role in youth recovery is validated and supported throughout treatment. Given the risk of secondary traumatic stress, burnout, and turnover among trauma professionals, four evidence-based practice self-care and relationship-care courses will be provided to 200 clinicians, supervisors, and senior leaders across the network to help support and sustain the child trauma workforce. The practice course has documented effectiveness in enhancing well-being. Course participants across organizational roles will demonstrate improvements in effective coping skill use and burnout, and treatment providers will demonstrate improvements in STS and TF-CBT fidelity, as assessed by standardized measures. To reach a greater number of child trauma professionals and organizations across the network, 25 practice course completers will participate in a TTT program to help participants learn to lead practice courses. To help ensure capacity building and sustainment across settings, participants in all programming (learning community/collaboratives, TTS programs, practice courses and associated TTT program) will be recruited from a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, child advocacy centers, and schools. All of the proposed programs and products, designed to increase and sustain workforce capacity, will ultimately improve the availability and accessibility of transformative evidence-based trauma treatment for youth and their caregivers nationwide.