The family trauma assessment of children and caregivers (F-TACC)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Western Michigan University $599,999 under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) on September 30, 2026, to establish and operate the Family Trauma Assessment of Children and Caregivers (F-TACC) Treatment and Service Adaptation Center, a National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative Category 2 TSA Center located within the university's School of Social Work in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

F-TACC will implement a comprehensive family trauma assessment model designed to assess intergenerational trauma in children, youth, and caregivers and build resiliency plans that address trauma's impact holistically. In Year One, two partner sites will launch—one in Michigan and one in Georgia—both embedded in public child welfare systems that have identified gaps in family trauma assessment capacity. Over Years 2–5, the center will expand to 24 additional sites, targeting National Child Traumatic Stress Network Category III sites. F-TACC's integrated assessment model is positioned to meet Georgia's comprehensive child and family assessment requirements under state child welfare policy, encompassing family assessment, trauma assessment, social study, medical assessment, kinship assessment, and reassessment protocols through a single person-centered process.

The award funds development and dissemination of training products and video resources to all participating F-TACC sites as well as other NCTSN sites network-wide. The period of performance runs through September 29, 2031.

Abstract

Project name: the family trauma assessment of children and caregivers (F-TACC) geographic area: the family trauma assessment of children and caregivers (F-TACC) seeks nctsi-II funding for its treatment and service adaptation center, located within the school of social work at western michigan university. Through this funding, F-TACC will operate a national child traumatic stress initiative category 2 treatment and service adaptation (TSA) center train sites to utilize our F-TACC comprehensive family trauma assessment model. Our model is designed to meet the needs of children, youth, and their families to assess intergenerational trauma and build resiliency plans to address the impact to children and their caregivers holistically. In year one, our partner sites will be located in two states: michigan and georgia. Both states have identified the need for comprehensive family trauma assessment for families engaged with the public child welfare system. In years 2-5 an additional 24 sites (targeting enlistment of category III sites) will implement the F-TACC. Both products and video will be developed and offered to all participating sites as well as all other nctsn sites. System impact: state child welfare policy requirements illustrate the assessment gaps within these systems. This project will launch with four partner sites: two in michigan and two in georgia. The georgia division of family and children services (DFCS) child welfare requires that children in the child welfare system receive a comprehensive child and family assessment (CCFA) encompassing a family assessment, social study, trauma assessment, medical assessment, kinship assessment, and reassessment if the CCFA is 12 months or older. The F-TACC family assessment model is uniquely positioned to fulfill all required CCFA components through a single, integrated, person-centered process that not only meets policy requirements but exceeds them by addressing intergenerational trauma and by providing a holistic resiliency plan for the family. Georgia is one of several states where policy infrastructure already mandates this level of assessment but where access to a model capable of delivering IT comprehensively remains a significant GAP. The michigan child welfare improvement task force announced in november 2025 that their focus would be on 2GEN a two-generation or multi-generational approach to child welfare that recognizes the interconnection of the needs of children with parents and other caregivers. 2GEN gives attention to the needs of both the child and the caregiver for the child as a whole picture, a whole family…promoting increased family wellbeing and prosperity of each family member. * the F-TACC family assessment approach addresses the gaps in georgia and in michigan and aims increase family stabilization and/or family reunification to ensure that every child has a safe, stable, and loving home. Project goals: goal 1: disseminate the F-TACC assessment model to improve capacity and access to implementing comprehensive neurodevelopmental family trauma assessment nationwide. Goal 2: utilize the key principals of implementation science through a learning collaborative. Goal 3: build capacity for each cohort site to begin conducting family assessments of initial family trauma assessment model. Goal 4: development of products for F-TACC family trauma assessment. Goal 5: create a network of nationwide family trauma assessment centers. Goal 6: establish of an advisory board for F-TACC. Goal 7: collaborate with nctsn level II and level III sites for integration of family trauma assessment. *https://michigancwtf.ORG/media/