In November we released our newest IMPACT titled "Addressing Maternal Mental Health in the Pediatric Medical Home". The report reviews the most common types of maternal mental health disorders, how they affect child health and development, available treatments, the role of child health providers and recommendations for improvement. To view news coverage of the report, click here.

To download a copy of the IMPACT, click here. If you would like hard copies, please contact Cindy Langer, [email protected].

We hope you have had a chance to view our newly designed and improved websites. You can quickly locate our publications, issue briefs and press releases and search our areas of work in health, mental health and early childhood. We welcome feedback!

Connecting Early Literacy and Social-Emotional Development

The Children's Fund co-sponsored The Connecticut Peer Learning Pilot on Social-Emotional Development and Early Literacy to help nine Connecticut communities share strategies to connect and promote early literacy and social emotional development. The Pilot also received financial support from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood and national and state organizations. On December 11, at the third and final Pilot meeting, Lisa Honigfeld and Gerald Calnen (Enfield pediatrician) discussed the role of pediatrics in promoting social emotional health and literacy in young children. They also helped community teams develop strategies to partner with pediatricians in their home communities. Cliff O'Callahan, Middletown pediatrician and CHDI Senior Fellow, spoke about the national Reach Out and Read program that provides books and early literacy information to pediatric offices.

Jason Lang co-led a symposium on Connecticut's work to expand trauma-informed services at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies' annual conference in Miami in November. Since 2007, CHDI has trained more than 600 clinicians and staff at 30 community mental health agencies to deliver TF-CBT. Learn more about CHDI's trauma-related work.

Lang also presented at the 7th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Rockville, MD on December 8-9. He discussed Connecticut's implementation of Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as part of a panel on Behavioral Health Dissemination & Implementation Research. Learn more about this topic in CHDI's recent Issue Brief #35 "Bridging Research and Practice: The Role of Implementation Science in Improving Children's Mental Health Services."

Jeff Vanderploeg presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the Connecticut Community Providers Association in Hartford on December 4. The panel presentation was titled, "A Comprehensive Discussion of the Behavioral Health Needs of Connecticut's Children" and was moderated by Sarah Eagan from the Office of the Child Advocate.

Judith Meyers joined CT radio host John Voket to talk about CHDI's IMPACT report on preventing childhood obesity. The discussion highlighted current research about what can be done to break the cycle of obesity. It is the first segment in the 11/9/14 "For the People" podcast. Click here to listen to the podcast.

On December 16, Meyers was interviewed by Mike Bellamy of WICC Radio. He spoke with her about preventing obesity in young children. This segment is part of a weekly series of chats arranged by the CT Early Childhood Alliance. Click here to listen to the interview.