CHDI (with funding from its parent organization, the Children's Fund of Connecticut) partnered with The Connecticut Mirror to print and distribute their "Starting Early: The Long Reach of Childhood Trauma" series. The series was written by Arielle Levin Becker from The Connecticut Mirror while participating in the National Health Journalism Fellowship, a program of USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

Click here to view online. Click here to print (pdf format). If you would like to order a printed copy, please contact Cindy Langer ([email protected])

CHDI brought together over 200 mental health clinicians and social service staff for the 7th Annual Connecticut TF-CBT Conference on May 28 in Hartford. The conference provided professional development training related to Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and was co-sponsored by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and Court Support Services Division. Since 2007, CHDI has trained over 250 clinicians and professionals in the TF-CBT model. More than 5,000 children have received TF-CBT in Connecticut since the initiative began in 2007. To learn more about TF-CBT, click here.

On June 3, CHDI co-sponsored a school-based diversion initiative conference in New Haven titled "A New Approach: How Restorative Practices Can be Used in Schools and to Engage Families." The audience included school administrators, police and community leaders. Restorative practices "seek to develop good relationships and restore a sense of community in an increasingly disconnected world." These practices can be helpful in managing classroom behaviors by engaging students and increasing academic performance. Learn more at: http://www.iirp.edu

Awareness of Connecticut's work to address Infant Mental Health continues to spread. Since the release of CHDI's IMPACT, "The Infant Mental Health Workforce: Key to Promoting the Healthy Social and Emotional Development of Children", (March 2015), seven articles have highlighted this work, including a recent story in the The New England Psychologist. To read the articles, click here.

In addition to the media coverage, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro joined CHDI, the Connecticut Association for Infant Mental Health, the Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Myra Jones-Taylor, and infant mental health experts for an in-depth discussion on Infant Mental Health and workforce development on May 6 in New Haven. Learn more about this event and important issue.

Jeana Bracey has been promoted to Director of School and Community Initiatives at CHDI. In this new role, Jeana will continue to oversee the School Based Diversion Initiative, the CONNECT system of care expansion grant, and the Project LAUNCH evaluation. She will also continue to participate in a number of internal and external committees and partnerships as she takes on an expanded leadership role in these strategic areas.


Sarah Oravecz has been promoted to Project Coordinator for MATCH. She will be responsible for leading the MATCH initiative and running the MATCH learning collaboratives. Sarah has been a Data Analyst on the CBITS and TF-CBT/Juvenile Justice learning collaborative since Fall 2014. She will bring her learning collaborative, data analysis, and project coordination skills and experience to MATCH as CHDI seeks to further expand evidence-based practices for children across Connecticut.



CHDI congratulates staff member Mayte Restrepo, MA, MPH on receiving the prestigious Susan S. Addiss Award in Applied Public Health Practice for her graduate work at UCONN. Recipients are chosen based on criteria that best describe the career of Susan Addiss: public health advocacy, leadership, demonstrated commitment to the community, and a 3.5 GPA minimum.

CHDI recently released a new infographic for maternal mental health to pediatric health providers and others caring for new moms and their babies. Click here to learn more.