How CONCEPT Transformed Child Welfare to Improve Support for Children and Families Exposed to 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.
A federal grant provided an opportunity for Connecticut to apply the concept of a trauma-informed approach to the state’s child welfare system. 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. Connecticut is now one of the nation’s leading examples of a trauma-informed child welfare system.
In this issue brief, you'll learn how Connecticut's CONCEPT initiative transformed its child welfare system to be trauma-informed. You'll also learn about the initiative's core components, including workforce training, trauma screening, and evidence-based treatments. Finally, the brief outlines recommendations for expanding trauma-informed approaches across child-serving systems.
This Issue Brief was prepared by Jason Lang, PhD, Chief Program Officer. For more information, contact Dr. Lang.