The CCR trains school and clinical professionals, as well as community agencies, how to use innovative and evidence-based approaches when working with children who have experienced trauma. The CCR also works with community leaders and policy makers to ensure statewide systems and resources support best practices in behavioral health. Children who are resilient are better able to cope with challenges, manage stress and make healthy choices. Building resiliency in children begins with ensuring their mental health needs are being met. For over a decade, the CCR has provided training, education and outreach to school professionals, community health agencies, city leaders and parents, increasing youth access to mental health services. The CCR has worked to identify clear strategies for helping children connect with the mental health care they need, ensuring providers were implementing effective programming, and identifying new interventions to address emerging mental health needs of children and youth statewide. Critical to developing these strategies is a commitment to ensuring the fidelity and sustainability of the models of care that were implemented. Utilizing a public health approach to expanding access to mental health services, allows the CCR to address mental health reform holistically, including:
School mental health – Working with school staff, clinicians, administrators and community organizations to build better access to mental health services for children and adolescents. Trauma training – Teaching professionals who work with children, trauma-informed best practices. Research – Identifying, evaluating and disseminating intervention best practices. Pre-professional mental health training – Training new generations of clinical professionals in the public health approach to mental health. Advocacy and policy – Leading advocacy and policy work to ensure statewide systems and resources support best practices in behavioral health.
