MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Edmund N. Ervin Pediatric Center (Pediatric Center) is seeking resources to develop the Central Maine Youth Trauma Initiative. Through this initiative, decision-makers, technical experts, and child-serving professionals will engage in a 5-year project that uses a traditional mental health approach and public health framework to influence a cultural shift around trauma-informed care in Central Maine. This includes creating a system in which evidence-based trauma services are available for all children under the age of 18; trauma informed evidence-based programs are valued, widely available and fully utilized; professionals who work with youth are able to identify trauma, interact with children in a therapeutic manner, and refer affected children and families to the appropriate care; and data is used strategically to inform decisions, measure progress and guide overall programmatic direction.
Through this project, highly qualified and experienced staff from the Pediatric Center will share knowledge, expertise, and resources to ensure all children, birth – 18, and their families receive evidence-based trauma-informed treatment. To support the cultural shirt within Central Maine, a Trauma 101 curriculum will be developed and provided, at no-cost, to a minimum of 300 people from youth serving organizations, schools, etc.
Capacity building and delivery of services will focus on the following evidence-based treatment programs: Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Attachment and Biobehavorial Catchup Model (ABC). Each year, capacity building will focus on an individual program while implementation occurs concurrently across all programs (Year 1 - 14 professionals trained in PCIT; Year 2 - 30 professionals trained in TF-CBT; Year 3 - 4 professionals trained in ABC). Screening and referral processes will be developed in collaboration with partners throughout the area, services will be promoted, and clinicians and professionals at all levels will be engaged. The Pediatric Center anticipates screening a minimum of 1,000 youth per year, receiving a minimum of 500 referrals to treatment programs by the end of Year 4 and providing treatment to a minimum of 300 children and caregivers at the end of Year 5.
In 2019, Maine experienced a 42% increase in children coming into state custody. Most children entering state custody have experienced some form of trauma. Understanding how to identify this trauma and support the child through the challenges associated with the trauma is an important component of this project. Focus will be placed on training a minimum of 200 resource parents using the Resource Parent Curriculum.
The Pediatric Center will capitalize on a long history of collaborating with local and national decision-makers and stakeholders; existing relationships across youth-serving organizations; and staff who are skilled in understanding, identifying and treating youth who have experienced trauma to achieve the goals and objectives of this project.