Child Health and Development Institute - CHDI

06/23/2026

Back in February, we shared the foreword to a special edition of Child Maltreatment, written by Chief Program Officer Jason Lang, PhD, and Rochelle Hanson, PhD, of the Medical University of South Carolina, who also edited the full issue. Today, we're thrilled to share that it's now available!

In Dr. Lang's words, the piece examines where trauma-informed care research stands today—and where it needs to go—at a moment when the term "trauma-informed" has become increasingly difficult to define in the behavioral health landscape.

Access it here: https://loom.ly/NJnd5Ok

Please note that institutional access may be required to view some articles.

06/22/2026

Great opportunity from NAMI Connecticut for young people in Connecticut (ages 16-29) who are passionate about mental health!

📣Calling all young adults!! Great opportunity, join our NextGen Board! ‼️💫

NAMI CT is now accepting applications for the Next Generation Advisory Board for terms beginning January 2027. 📆

The NextGen Board is a young adult advisory group that develops programs, supports outreach and advocacy efforts, and advises NAMI Connecticut on issues impacting young people across the state.

Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 29 at the start of their term in January 2027.

Apply here [https://forms.gle/tEfZYoxS7usztnjYA] by July 31.

For any questions you can reach out to Torry at [email protected] or you can e-mail the NextGen Board directly at [email protected].

06/19/2026

From coast to coast, CHDI staff have been sharing what we know. Since January, we've presented on our research and programs at events nationwide. Here are a few highlights from 2026 so far!

06/18/2026

Summer can disrupt routines, and for some families, that means losing touch with the behavioral health supports they rely on.

That's why our School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI) team created these ready-to-share one-page resources to help bridge that gap without adding more work to your plate. And, they're available in English and Spanish!

Covering substance use and va**ng, healthy digital media habits, mental health conversations, restorative approaches at home, and a directory of behavioral health resources, they're ready to go whenever you are, whether or not you're in an SBDI school.

🔗 Download and share here: https://loom.ly/RWO4fIA

06/18/2026

We were a proud sponsor of this year's Foursomes for Fatherhood Golf Classic, hosted by The Village for Families & Children!

President and CEO Jeff Vanderploeg and VP for Finance and Operations Ryan Jason hit the course last Monday in support of The Village's fatherhood engagement programs and services ⛳️

06/16/2026

✏️ Strong school partnerships with families and caregivers are key drivers of student success, and our Family Engagement Toolkit for Schools is designed to help!

Created under the School-Based Diversion Initiative (SBDI), this toolkit complements and enhances your school or district’s existing strategies, even if you aren't in an SBDI school.

It offers practical guidance to build effective, sustainable collaboration—covering how to strengthen engagement practices, communicate data clearly, consider cultural factors, and share resources directly with families.

⬇️ Download the toolkit: https://loom.ly/BlzdGTo

06/12/2026

At the end of May, we proudly hosted our 18th Annual Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Conference! 🎉 Over 350 behavioral health providers, school professionals, state agency staff, and other child-serving workers joined us to share, learn, and strengthen knowledge around EBPs.

Dr. Sunny Patel, MD, MPH, MS, kicked off our day with a keynote addressing how clinicians can create safe spaces using EBPs in challenging social and economic times. Afterwards, participants chose from 33 breakout presentations across 3 sessions, offering education on a variety of topics including the use of creative strategies to deliver interventions, working with special populations, the impact of technology, and trauma screening.

📰 Read the full recap on the blog: https://loom.ly/TEfwd9o

Thank you again to all who attended, our phenomenal presenters, and our partners, the CT Department of Children and Families and the CT Judicial Branch CSSD, for making this event possible and for being part of an incredible day!

06/11/2026

🪴 We had a great 𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙢𝙚 with The Garden at Pinehurst Farm! Dina and her team gave expert guidance on planting and brought a spread of fresh herbs for us to curate our own custom mini gardens, perfect for summer recipes.

Thank you to the CHDI Sunshine Committee for organizing!

06/09/2026

When families are involved in a child's treatment, therapeutic outcomes improve. Forging alliances, however, can be a challenge without the right knowledge and skills.

This , Dr. Noel Casiano guides learners through evidence-based engagement approaches—including Motivational Interviewing and the Biopsychosocial Model—and offers strategies for implementing them in clinical practice and overcoming potential barriers in the course Effective Family Engagement.

Learners can also access a family engagement checklist and are eligible to earn 2 NASW-CT-approved CECs!

📚 Take the course: https://loom.ly/b78o3lc

06/05/2026

When Teri called the MRSS helpline at 8 AM, she didn't know where to turn. Her 11-year-old grandson Brody refused to get out of bed for school, she was at risk of losing her job, and neither of them could see a way forward. Within 30 minutes, a clinician was at their door.

Six weeks later, Brody is in therapy and karate classes, Teri has a caregiver support group, and they both feel hopeful.

Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) sends trained clinicians and peer support specialists directly to families in crisis — no ER, no justice involvement, just the right help at the right time.

A new study co-authored by CHDI's Kayla Theriault, MPH, Jeffrey Vanderploeg, PhD, and Kellie Randall, PhD, examines how Connecticut's MRSS program — Mobile Crisis Intervention Services (MCIS) — functions as a critical element of the state's children's behavioral health system and offers best practices other states can adopt.

🔗 Read the full study here: https://loom.ly/UmJ8otI