Project Grant H79SM091564

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Children's Research Triangle $499,896 on September 30, 2026, under the Center for Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.532) to strengthen infant and early childhood mental health through trauma-informed integrated services.

Children's Research Triangle will deliver evidence-based screening, assessment, evaluation, treatment, crisis care, and caregiver education to 900+ low-income Chicago-area children ages birth through 12 with or at risk for serious emotional disturbance and their families. Services focus on 35% infants and preschoolers (ages 0–5) and 65% school-aged youth (ages 6–12), the majority of whom have experienced trauma. The recipient will provide evidence-based interventions including Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Theraplay, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing; infant and early childhood mental health consultation; caregiver education through parenting programs; and crisis intervention services. Seventy percent of services are delivered at nine schools and social service agencies in South and West Side Chicago neighborhoods; additional services occur at the Loop clinic and via telehealth. Children's Research Triangle will train 500 professionals and provide consultation to 10 community agencies.

The award period runs through September 29, 2031, with place of performance in Chicago, Illinois.