Family Service seeks to embed the attributes of a trauma-informed, resilient community in the child welfare system by: 1) building systemic capacity and training Child Protective Services staff in resilience and trauma awareness, 2) establishing trauma-informed foster parent and kinship care provider networks, and 3) thoroughly infusing the child welfare system with the principles of trauma-informed practice, and the adoption of trauma-responsive policies.
Project Name: Por Los Ninos
Population to Be Served: Children ages birth to 12 years old who have been abused or neglected, are under the supervision of the child welfare system and are at significant risk of developing, show early signs of or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Family Service’s experience with this population in San Antonio/Bexar County, Texas indicates three-quarters will be boys, 77% will be Hispanic, 96% will live in a low-income family, and 55% will live with a single parent.
Strategies/Interventions: Por Los Ninos will advance behavioral health equity and fully address the impact of trauma consistently experienced by children who have been abused or neglected and are at heightened risk of lifetime psychiatric morbidity. Por Los Ninos’ direct treatment and capacity building resources will include: 1) specialized, trauma-informed treatment for children under the age of 12; 2) training to build the capacity of CPS staff to consistently identify and screen for mental health, ACEs and related impact among children under CPS supervision, and make appropriate referrals for direct treatment services; and 3) creating a trauma-informed foster care/kinship care provider network prepared to deliver specialized or intensive, trauma-informed foster care to children assessed as having early signs of psychiatric disorders.
Goal: Provide the specialized, trauma-informed mental health promotion, intervention and treatment services needed to improve outcomes for children ages birth to 12 years of age who have experienced abuse, neglect and additional ACEs, and are under the supervision of the child welfare system.
Objective 1. Build the capacity of Child Protective Services staff to identify, screen and direct into care children who have experienced multiple ACEs and have suspected mental health challenges.
Objective 2. Provide early intervention and mental health treatment services to 625 children.
Objective 3. Provide trauma-informed parenting training and support groups to increase the capacity and skills of 325 foster parents and kinship care providers to promote trauma-informed, healthy, safe, secure environments in which young children can learn and grow.
Number of children to be served: 625
Number of child welfare system and other professionals to be trained: 425
