Children's Research Triangle's Strengthening Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Through Trauma-Informed Integrated Services - Children’s Research Triangle will implement Strengthening Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Through Trauma-Informed Integrated Services (IECMH) to expand social‑emotional screening, assessment, evaluation, treatment, crisis care, caregiver education, and consultation for over 900 low‑income children ages 0–12 in the Chicago metropolitan area, along with their families. Seventy percent of services will occur in South and West Side neighborhoods facing high poverty and workforce shortages, with additional care provided through CRT’s Loop clinic and telehealth. The population includes infants, preschoolers, and school‑aged children experiencing high rates of trauma, neglect, abuse, caregiver separation, violence exposure, housing/food instability, parental incarceration, disability, prenatal substance exposure, and mental illness; 96% have trauma histories and 10% are involved in child welfare. Interventions include evidence‑based screening and evaluation, CPP, TF‑CBT, PCIT, Theraplay, EMDR, crisis intervention, caregiver education (STEP, COSP), case management, IECMH consultation, and workforce training. Project goals are to improve early identification, expand access to evaluations and evidence‑based treatment, strengthen caregiver‑child relationships, increase clinician competency, maintain high standards of care, and empower caregivers. Measurable objectives include training 500 professionals, screening 750 children, completing 125 comprehensive evaluations, providing 350 children/families with treatment, engaging 75 caregivers in parenting programs, consulting with 10 agencies, and achieving high fidelity, timely engagement, improved outcomes, and strong caregiver satisfaction.
