On June 14, CHDI in partnership with the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity and UConn Health, Center for Public Health and Health Policy co-sponsored a forum "Aligning Policy with Research: Promoting Sound Nutrition in Early Childhood." The forum brought together over 55 early childhood professionals representing three state agencies, child health providers, academic researchers and non-profit leaders. Judith Meyers summarized CHDI's policy recommendations and moderated a panel on obesity prevention in early childhood settings. Participants worked in groups to develop suggestions for specific actions for improving the nutrition environment in early childhood and research, programmatic and policy recommendations for further exploration.

CHDI hosted the 8th Annual Connecticut Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Conference on May 12 in Hartford. Dr. Michael de Arrelano from the Medical University of South Carolina presented the keynote, "Tailoring TF-CBT for Culturally Modified Implementation." More than 225 staff trained in TF-CBT from mental health agencies and the child welfare and juvenile justice systems attended. The conference was sponsored by the CT Department of Children and Families, the Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division, and the Administration for Children and Families to improve access to evidence-based treatment in the community for children and youth suffering from exposure to abuse, violence, and other traumatic events. TF-CBT is available at more than 30 agencies in Connecticut, and more than 5,500 children have received TF-CBT since 2007.

Judith Meyers has been elected Chair of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy (CCP) board of directors for a one year term beginning in March of this year. The public announcement took place on May 13 at the 2016 CCP Philanthropy Conference in Trumbull. Meyers has been on the board of directors since 2009. Maggie Osborne, President of CCP, who is leaving (at the end of June) for a new position was recognized for her many contributions. She is pictured here with Sue Murphy, outgoing CCP Board Chair, and Meyers.

Legislation passed this session ("An Act Concerning the Recommendations of the Juvenile Justice Policy and Oversight Committee") incorporates several behavioral health related recommendations from CHDI's report, "Improving Coordination Between the Juvenile Justice and Behavioral Health Systems in Connecticut" and Connecticut's Children's Behavioral Health Plan (www.plan4children.org). The changes also support the work of Connecticut's School-Based Diversion Initiative. Click here to view the legislation.

A recent Connecticut Investigative Team (C-HIT) article examines lead poisoning in Connecticut and discusses how many young children are not being screened properly, resulting in missed opportunities for early diagnosis and intervention. Lisa Honigfeld was quoted in the article and interviewed on WTIC News/Talk 1080's Ray Dunaway Show on May 11 about child lead exposure in Connecticut. CHDI trains pediatric offices to screen young children for lead exposure through our Educating Practices In the Community (EPIC) program's "Lead Poisoning and Treatment: Apply the Law to Protect Children." Practices interested in this training should contact Maggy Morales, mamorales@uchc.edu.

Lisa Honigfeld and colleagues from the University of Hartford (Anne Pidano, Chelsea Slater, Lourdes Dale, Kaitlyn Wilbur, and Preeti Sandhu) co-authored an article in the Journal of Child and Family Studies. The article: "Availability of Telephone-Based Child Psychiatry Consultation: Implications from a Survey of Pediatric Providers in Two States", reviews findings from a study assessing pediatricians' responses to hypothetical patients presenting with mental health concerns. Responses from pediatricians in Massachusetts and Indiana showed that pediatricians in Massachusetts were more likely to screen patients for behavioral health concerns and also more likely to refer patients with suspected ADHD and depression to psychiatrists. The findings were explored in light of state policies that support pediatric providers in addressing behavioral health issues.