Developing Resilience and Well-being (DRAW) - Developing Resilience and Well-being (DRAW), a program of LUK Crisis Center, Inc. (LUK), will provide screening, assessment, diagnosis, mental health promotion and intervention services for infants and young children (IYC), ages 0-12, and their families. To raise awareness of mental health needs of IYC and available services, we will also provide training to the IYC workforce including mental health providers, and supplement training with individualized consultations. DRAW will serve IYC and their caregivers in Worcester County, Massachusetts. 113,404 children under the age of 12 reside in the service area (US Census, 2020-2024 American Community Survey, 5-year estimates). Child Trends (2026) reported that 32% of children in Massachusetts have experienced at least one ACE (an estimated 36,289 children under age 12 in Worcester County). Common clinical characteristics of the population of focus include behavioral disturbances (e.g., non-compliance, aggression), and dysregulation (e.g., tantrums, crying/whining). The most common diagnoses include Trauma and Stressor-Related, Adjustment, Anxiety, Relational, and Regulatory Disorders. DRAW’s goals are: (1) To increase adults’ (professionals and family) knowledge of trauma symptoms in IYC and when to refer for additional services, (2) To increase referrals of IYC in need of evidence-based trauma treatment, (3) To improve the functioning of IYC impacted by trauma and the functioning of their caregivers, and (4) To improve the skills of early childhood education (ECE) providers to manage IYC with trauma and other stressors/symptoms. DRAW will utilize the following evidence-based trauma treatments: Attachment, Regulation, and Competency (ARC); a caregiver adaptation of ARC called ARC Grow; and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Consultation Competencies from the Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health will also be utilized. Each year, DRAW plans to screen 150 IYC, with additional assessments and diagnoses for 75 IYC annually. Evidence-based treatment will be provided to 50 IYC and their families annually. Over the 5-year project, we will screen 750 IYC, provide assessment and diagnoses to 375 IYC, and provide evidence-based treatment to 250 IYC and their families. We also plan to train 150 adults who care for IYC each year (e.g., medical professionals, childcare providers, mental health providers) for a total of 750 trained over the 5-year project, with consultation provided to 10 early childhood educators each year, for a total of 50 over the 5-year project. DRAW’s proposed objectives include the following: - By the end of the 5-year project, 75% of training participants will report increased ability to identify and refer the population of focus; - By discharge, 75% of families will be strengthened: To improve children’s social-emotional skills and functioning, To enhance caregiver-child interactions, and To decrease children’s stressors; and - By the end of 5-year project, 75% of ECE providers engaged in consultation will report an improvement in individual skills.
