Puerto Rican Family Institute (PRFI) proposes to increase its capacity to provide trauma- informed services to Latinx children ages 2-21, their families and communities. This will be accomplished by training our clinicians in the evidence-based practices TF-CBT and CM-TFT, embedding the principles of a trauma-informed organization in PRFI and offering community trauma education, consultation and referral information to a diverse range of partners. The geographic catchment area is comprised of three New York City boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, where PRFI maintains clinics and where we have strong current partnerships with schools and CBOs. Population(s) to be served: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) disproportionately affect low-income children of color who are already at risk. Latinx children exposed to multiple ACEs are at risk for anxiety, withdrawal and aggression, obesity, and chronic health problems in the future.
Strategies/interventions: Puerto Rican Family Institute proposes to serve these children by enhancing our clinical expertise in TF-CBT and CM-TFT, leveraging the trust PRFI has established in the NYC Latinx communities, and relying on the reputation we have for high-quality, culturally-informed services among our partners – schools, community coalitions, medical organizations and other community organizations. We will provide education to these organizations to understand a trauma-informed framework and perspective, prioritize practical and applied strategies that have immediate benefits for the well-being and healing for children, families and staff who work with traumatized populations.
Goal 1: PRFI will increase access to evidence-based trauma treatment services for children and their families. Objective: 1.a. PRFI will create an ongoing system of outreach and engagement to at-risk children and vulnerable families. Measure: Develop referral agreements with at least 4 agencies in Year One and at least two a year in Years 2-5, a total of 12 in the grant period. Objective 1.b: PRFI will ensure that clinicians will be certified to provide TF-CBT. Measure: Certify 5 clinicians in Years 1-5 for a total of 25 in the grant period. Objective 1.c.: PRFI will provide TF-CBT trauma treatment. Measure: Year 1: 50 children; Years 2-5: 100 children and their families a year a total of 450 in the grant period
Goal 2: PRFI will create awareness of trauma identification response and resources for treatment and support among our partnering agencies, communities and local organizations. Objective 2.a.: PRFI will provide free technical assistance on how create trauma informed cultures in their agencies.
Measure: Technical assistance to 2 agencies (including schools) a year in Years 1-5, a total of 10 agencies in the grant period. Objective 2.b.: PRFI will address trauma-induced mental illness/emotional disturbance by general education of the prevalence of trauma and its treatment and support options.
Measure: 4 informational sessions/forums a year to schools, other behavioral health agencies, and community agencies.