Trauma-informed systems
CHDI is helping child-serving systems become more trauma-informed, improve early identification of children with traumatic stress, and increase the number of children receiving evidence-based treatment so they can recover and thrive.
Building trauma-informed systems of care
Exposure to trauma is a significant public health concern. Research indicates that up to 70% of children are exposed to potentially traumatic events (e.g. violence, physical or sexual abuse, neglect, accidents and other life-threatening events, and other forms of serious adversity) before they turn eighteen. While many children are resilient and will recover with the help of family and friends, some will develop significant ongoing health, behavioral health, school, and social problems related to traumatic stress.
CHDI has made great strides in helping build services and supports to address child trauma in Connecticut and beyond. Since 2007, CHDI has collaborated with public agencies, community providers, and families to advance comprehensive, effective, and trauma-informed systems of care, improve early identification of children suffering from traumatic stress, and expand access to trauma-focused evidence-based treatments to more children and their families.
Our strategies
- Workforce development
- Expanding brief trauma screening and related training
- Identifying and disseminating practice improvements
- Expanding access to evidence-based treatments
- Facilitating cross-system collaboration
These changes are working. More members of the child-serving workforce are being trained to understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to childhood trauma. More children suffering from traumatic stress are being screened and identified earlier, and more trauma-focused treatment options are available for those who need them.
Search for providers offering key evidence-based, trauma-informed treatments for children in the Connecticut Evidence-Based Practices Directory:
Examples of Building Trauma-Informed Systems
CONCEPT (The Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practices for Trauma)
Beginning in 2011, Connecticut launched a seven-year effort to transform the child welfare system to be trauma-informed. The majority of children in the child welfare system have been exposed to trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and chronic neglect, however emerging best practices for children exposed to trauma had not yet been implemented in Connecticut or nationally.
Today, Connecticut has made significant progress to ensure that children and families involved in the child welfare system are identified and have access to high-quality services.
Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC)
From 2016-2022, CHDI's Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC) expanded trauma-focused treatments and services for children ages 0-7 in Connecticut. ECTC also helped Connecticut’s early childhood workforce identify and support young children and their families who may be experiencing traumatic stress.
CONCEPT (The Connecticut Collaborative on Effective Practices for Trauma)
Beginning in 2011, Connecticut launched a seven-year effort to transform the child welfare system to be trauma-informed. The majority of children in the child welfare system have been exposed to trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, and chronic neglect, however emerging best practices for children exposed to trauma had not yet been implemented in Connecticut or nationally.
Today, Connecticut has made significant progress to ensure that children and families involved in the child welfare system are identified and have access to high-quality services.
Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC)
From 2016-2022, CHDI's Early Childhood Trauma Collaborative (ECTC) expanded trauma-focused treatments and services for children ages 0-7 in Connecticut. ECTC also helped Connecticut’s early childhood workforce identify and support young children and their families who may be experiencing traumatic stress.