The trauma and grief center: building bereavement-informed capacity across child-serving systems - the proposed project, the trauma and grief center: building bereavement-informed capacity across…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded The Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute for Texas $599,925 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532).

The recipient will establish the Trauma and Grief Center as a National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative Category II Trauma-Focused Services and Advocacy center focused on childhood bereavement, traumatic loss, and anticipatory grief. Anchored in Dallas, Texas, the center will leverage partnerships across Texas and nine additional states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania) to build bereavement-informed capacity across child-serving systems including schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, child welfare agencies, and juvenile justice settings.

Delivered activities include learning collaboratives supporting delivery of three grief-focused interventions (Multidimensional Grief Therapy, Trauma and Grief Component Therapy for Adolescents, and Promoting Adaptive Grief Experiences); a Multidimensional Grief Therapy Champion train-the-trainer pathway; adaptation of interventions for youth experiencing ambiguous loss and those involved in child welfare and juvenile justice systems; and development and pilot testing of caregiver engagement and technology-enhanced resources. By project completion, the center will train approximately 1,300 clinicians and establish 10 certified trainers.

The period of performance runs through September 29, 2031.

The trauma and grief center: building bereavement-informed capacity across child-serving systems - the proposed project, the trauma and grief center: building bereavement-informed capacity across child-serving systems, will establish the trauma and grief center as an nctsi category II TSA center focused on childhood bereavement, traumatic and ambiguous loss, and anticipatory grief. Bereavement is one of the most common and distressing childhood adversities, with more than 6.6 million U.S. Children grieving the death of a significant person. Despite its prevalence, many systems lack specialized screening, assessment, treatment, and implementation supports for this population. Anchored in houston, the tag center will leverage partnerships across texas and in arizona, california, connecticut, georgia, louisiana, michigan, nebraska, north carolina, and pennsylvania to address these gaps while serving as a national resource. Project strategies include: (1) learning collaboratives supporting delivery of three complementary grief-focused interventions: multidimensional grief therapy (MGT), trauma and grief component therapy for adolescents, and promoting adaptive grief experiences; (2) an MGT champion train the trainer pathway; (3) adaptation of interventions for youth experiencing ambiguous loss and those involved in child welfare and juvenile justice; and (4) development and pilot testing of caregiver engagement and technology enhanced MGT resources. This project will strengthen the capacity of schools, healthcare systems, community organizations, child welfare agencies, and juvenile justice settings to support youth affected by trauma and loss through adaptation of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions, implementation support, workforce development, and dissemination activities. By the end of the project period, the tag center will train approximately 1,300 clinicians, establish 10 certified MGT trainers, achieve at least 85% increases in trauma and grief informed competencies, and strengthen organizational capacity to serve an estimated 31,200 youth.