Saturday, April 20, 2024
4/20/2024
Project CONTACT (Community Operations Network for Treatment After Childhood Trauma) brings together a group of key community stakeholders in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area to increase access, coordinate care, and enhance engagement for children who have recently experienced a traumatic event but have not engaged in clinical services. Project CONTACT answers our community's call to action to recognize and respond to the fact that fewer than half of children who are exposed to trauma have the opportunity to benefit from evidence-based trauma-focused treatment. The goals of the project are: 1) to increase the number of children who are referred to, initiate, and complete evidence-based trauma-focused treatment (Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention; CFTSI), and 2) to improve the mental health functioning of the participating children and adolescents. Over the course of the five-year project, we anticipate serving over 640 families. The Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis (CASGSL) at the University of Missouri - St. Louis will lead the project and has recruited community partners from a broad array of service sectors including law enforcement, juvenile courts, schools, and hospitals. Project CONTACT aims to serve children and families who otherwise might "fall through the cracks" without sufficient engagement in trauma-focused treatment. These families, often marginalized due to their socioeconomic status and/or race, face significant barriers to treatment participation. By convening community partners and building a strong referral, consultation, and follow-up infrastructure to coordinate their efforts, Project CONTACT will promote timely access to treatment and recovery for 100+ children and adolescents each year. Outreach efforts will include hosting trauma-informed interdisciplinary meetings that will facilitate communications and collaboration between and among service providers so they can track referrals and share resources. After referral into Project CONTACT, children and families will be assisted by CASGSL's Family Engagement Specialists who will help caregivers identify and address barriers to participation in treatment, and educate families about CFTSI. Provided by CASGSL's experienced clinical staff, this evidence-based short-term therapy is implemented in the first few weeks following a traumatic experience. The model aims to prevent the onset of PTSD by enhancing the caregiver's emotional support of their child and by teaching specific behavioral skills to reduce trauma-related symptoms. We will complete both process and outcomes evaluations to monitor program outputs and assess our ability to help participants make gains in mental health functioning that last throughout a six-month follow-up.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
