CHDI Hosts 18th Annual Evidence-Based Practice Conference
The 18th Annual Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Conference, themed "Connect, Care, and Compassion: Inspiring Innovation Amid a Changing Landscape," was held on May 21st at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford.
Over 350 behavioral health providers, school professionals, state agency staff, and others working alongside CHDI and the State of Connecticut gathered to share and learn together, strengthening their practice and knowledge around children's behavioral health EBPs.
CHDI President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg, PhD, welcomed attendees, followed by Susan I. Hamilton, MSW, JD, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), and Gary Roberge, MPA, Executive Director of the Connecticut Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division (CSSD)
CHDI Chief Program Officer Jason Lang, PhD, provided an overview of the evolving EBP landscape in 2026 and shared tools, resources, and relevant news, including CHDI school mental health resources such as the Students Supporting Students initiative, the SHAPE System, and the Kids Mental Health Training portal.
Most notably, Dr. Lang shared that 25,901 children across Connecticut are receiving EBPs, including CPP, ARC, CBITS/BB, MATCH-ADTC, and TF-CBT!
For nearly two decades, CHDI has collaborated with state and federal partners, providers, and families to improve access to effective behavioral health services for children and youth. As part of this effort—and with funding and support from DCF and CSSD—we have hosted the EBP Conference annually since 2008 to provide training, support, and networking opportunities for clinicians disseminating evidence-based practices across the state. Together, we have developed a workforce in Connecticut that now delivers multiple evidence-based treatments and practices to thousands of children and families each year.
Keynote: Systems in Flux, Care in Focus: Supporting Children & Families in Uncertain Times
Dr. Sunny Patel, MD, MPH, MS, delivers his keynote presentation via Zoom.
Dr. Sunny Patel, MD, MPH, MS, set the tone for the day with his keynote presentation, "Systems in Flux, Care in Focus: Supporting Children and Families in Uncertain Times." The presentation addressed how clinicians create "pockets of safety" through evidence-based practices to maintain consistent, high-quality care during periods of change and uncertainty within broader social, economic, and institutional systems. He recognized the tremendous resilience and dedication of behavioral health providers despite these challenges and highlighted strategies for professional sustainability and continuing to find meaning in the work.
Dr. Patel is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics and a faculty member of the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities at Georgetown University, and has previously served in several federal appointments.
Breakout session highlights
Conference participants chose from 33 breakout sessions where providers and child-serving professionals enhanced their professional development and earned continuing education credits in a wide range of topics, including:
- Best practices in trauma screening
- Culturally responsive and stigma-free treatment planning and practice
- Effective caregiver interventions and engagement
- Proactive suicide and risk assessments
- Creative strategies to deliver interventions, such as game design, fandom, Disney stories, tabletop roleplaying games, play, and art therapy
- Advancing evidence-based care for special populations, including autistic youth, human trafficking survivors, LGBTQ+ students, students with complex diagnoses, aggressive children and adolescents, adolescents with psychosis, and youth of different races and cultural backgrounds
- The impact of technology on youth and family mental health, including social media
- Interventions and strategies for working with youth with co-occurring substance use and mental health needs
- Guidance for providing effective court testimony
- Many other EBP- and condition-specific workshops
Swipe through the photo album to see some of the day's workshops!
2026 Honorees
Each year, CHDI also recognizes agencies and individual clinicians demonstrating outstanding performance in implementing an EBP model over the previous year (based on program data) with a Connecticut EBP Provider Award.
2025-2026 honorees for each EBP included:
• Child and Family Guidance Center
• United Community and Family Services, Inc
• Community Health Center, Inc.
Providers:
• Maritza Colon (CMHA)
• Xiomara Lopez (CFGC)
• Tina Dyer (UCFS)
• Emily Jones (Klingberg)
Learn More About TF-CBT
• Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc.
• Community Child Guidance Clinic, Inc.
• United Community and Family Services, Inc.
Providers:
• Maritza Colon (CMHA)
• Nichole Pagan (CMHA)
• Johnesha Brown (Clifford Beers)
• Mary Gould (CHR)
Learn More About MATCH
• Wellmore
• Child and Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, Inc.
• The Village
Providers:
• Stephanie Serrano (Wellmore)
• Deborah Butler (UCFS)
• Tracy Clough (UCFS)
Learn More About ARC
• Clifford Beers
• Bridges
• Capitol Region Education Council
Providers:
• Elizabeth Gentile (Stamford PS)
• Megan Bourguillon (Southwest)
• Alvado Morgan (Clifford Beers)
• Caitlin Kimberlin (LEARN Regional)
Learn More About CBITS
• Mid-Fairfield Community Care Center
• Southwest Community Center
• Hartford Public Schools
Providers:
• Ana Taveras (Southwest Community Center)
• Katherine Moore (LEARN Regional)
Learn More About Bounce Back
• Community Child Guidance Clinic, Inc.
• Amanda Lafoe (CCGC)
T-SBIRT:
• Amanda Valese (The Center for Family Justice).
CHDI applauds all EBP providers across Connecticut for their ongoing work to improve the quality of children's behavioral health care.
