Innovations Institute

07/25/2025

Feeling overwhelmed or anxious? Vibrant Emotional Health's interactive tool, Safe Space, is home to free resources and tools to provide you with extra support in an emotionally safe environment.

Explore the resources, which include evidence-based self-help tools, grounding techniques, mental wellness exercises, and even distraction-oriented activities like Google's Art Coloring Book–a digital, interactive experience that lets users color masterpieces in their own style.

🔗vibrant.org/safespace

07/24/2025

This May National Wraparound Implementation Center webinar recording is now available! The session explored the findings of a recent study on turnover within the Wraparound workforce. Results of the study suggest an average turnover rate of 30% annually. The webinar reviewed data related to patterns of turnover across the Wraparound workforce, the impact of turnover on service outcomes, causes of high rates of turnover, and potential strategies to decrease current and future turnover rates. 🔗s.uconn.edu/5-5webinar

07/23/2025

📢 Help National Network for Youth and Baker McKenzie get the word out! The new "I Am Here: Vital Document Legal Hotline for Youth" went live at noon today!

Youth experiencing often face huge barriers obtaining legal documents (IDs, social security cards, birth certificates), which are needed to access housing, education, jobs, and safety. Now there is a free, dedicated legal assistance hotline for youth experiencing homelessness to help obtain essential identification and vital documents.

📞 Call 1-800-870-DOCS on Wednesdays, 12–8 PM ET
🔗 Learn more: s.uconn.edu/nn4yhotline

07/22/2025

🎉 Celebrating 20 Years of Innovation and Impact! 🎉

From our roots in Maryland to our national home at the UConn School of Social Work, Innovations Institute has spent two decades transforming systems of care for children, youth, and families.

Our 60+ staff annually partner with 30+ states, Tribal Nations, federal and local agencies, universities, and youth- and family-run organizations. Together, we’re advancing policy, practice, and equity in public child- and family-serving systems.

Our impact continues to grow:
💰 $16M+ in annual projects
🌍 Impact in all 50 states, DC, PR, and U.S. territories
📢 62K+ listserv subscribers | 21K+ LMS users
📄 Reports + Toolkits + Webinars + Podcasts
📚 3,000+ hours of training delivered in 3 years

Thank you to everyone who’s helped us get here—and to all joining us on the journey ahead!

📰 Check out the latest TA Telegram for more about: s.uconn.edu/7-21telegram
📩 Sign up for the bi-weekly TA Telegram to never miss an update: s.uconn.edu/subscribe2ii

07/18/2025

💙🍪📸Costume Character Cookie Monster spread so much joy last week at the , reminding us how vital it is to support kids' well-being.

Thanks Cookie Monster for helping to make the 2025 Training Institutes extra special—and for reminding us all that caring for and helping is no small thing!

➡️ Swipe for some of our favorite moments!

07/17/2025

Shortened deadlines and changes in eligibility for federal funds may impact services supporting vulnerable youth and young adults who are or are at-risk of experiencing homelessness.

Learn more: s.uconn.edu/thehill-7-14

Across the country, community-based organizations protecting youths experiencing homelessness are reeling.

07/16/2025

July is Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month (aka, BIPOC Mental Health Month) — a time to shine a light on the mental health needs, strengths, and stories of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

At Innovations, we're committed to transforming systems to ensure all people and communities have access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and equitable mental health care.

Join us as we reflect, reconnect, and recommit to mental health equity for BIPOC children, youth, and families.

07/15/2025

A team from the UW SMART Center and WERT (Wraparound Evaluation and Research Team), including our own Visiting Professor of Social Work, Eric Bruns, led a federally-funded study to adapt and test a care coordination model that is appropriate for school settings.

This first paper presents results from an expert consensus process that generated recommendations on how to adapt existing materials for community Wraparound programs so they are feasible and acceptable for the education context.

Study findings were used to design a Wraparound in Schools model based on Project FOCUS that aims to be effective for elementary students with complex needs.

Read the article: s.uconn.edu/7-25-wrapsmh

UConn School of Social Work

Multi-Tiered System of Supports and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports frameworks focus on providing effective Tier 1 (universal), Tier 2 (selected)...

07/14/2025

The may be over, but the momentum continues. The community we built last week is powerful—and it’s only the beginning!

💬 Isabel Ohakamma — NAMI Next Gen Advisor said it best: “Our collective and united voices are what will lead to change.”

Thank you for showing up. Now let’s keep showing up—for youth, families, and each other to help ensure !

➡️ Scroll through a few of our favorite moments!

UConn School of Social Work

07/10/2025

It’s the final day of the ! One more chance to connect, learn, and reflect together. Let’s make it count.

07/09/2025

🤖 Join us tomorrow, Thursday 7/10 at 9:00am, for “Innovate & Thrive: Opportunities with Health AI & Technology Leaders” as we close out the with forward-thinking insights and inspiration for what’s ahead.

🌐 Kana Enomoto, Director of Brain Health at the McKinsey & Company Health Institute, will open with a keynote on how AI can empower frontline care—where innovation meets empathy.

She’ll be joined by a dynamic panel:
🔹 Hafeezah Muhammad, Backpack Healthcare
🔹 Dr. Amy Nitza, Ph.D., Global Center for AI in Mental Health
🔹 Dr. Kamillah Wood, Google Health

Learn how cross-sector AI and tech solutions are being used to reduce burnout, improve outcomes, and re-center human connection in our work with youth and families.

Let’s reimagine the future and help — together.

07/09/2025

We ❤️ Youth MOVE PA & Youth MOVE National!

Youth MOVE National & Youth MOVE PA connecting in person at the 2025 UCONN Innovations Institute!
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