National Award Recognizes CT Partnership to Improve Behavioral Health Treatments for Youth

The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) has presented the prestigious 2024 SIRC Mission Award to a successful partnership between the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI), the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), model developers, and a statewide network of community-based providers and schools.

The award recognized outstanding collaborative contributions to implementation research and practice relating to the successful implementation of evidence-based behavioral health treatments (EBTs) for youth. SIRC, a national society dedicated to promoting the effective implementation of evidence-based interventions, presented the award at its national conference in Denver earlier this Fall.

“I am deeply grateful to our dedicated staff at CHDI, leaders at DCF, and Connecticut’s outstanding network of providers and schools,” says Jeffrey Vanderploeg, PhD, President and CEO of CHDI. “Working together over the past two decades, we have transformed Connecticut into a national leader in implementing EBTs. This award validates this important and innovative partnership model to improve access to effective behavioral health services for youth and their families.”

The Connecticut EBT Partnership is a model of collaboration and innovation in promoting equitable access, quality, and outcomes in behavioral health care for youth and families, according to officials. CHDI is the lead intermediary organization responsible for implementation, working alongside DCF as the lead state agency. Community-based organizations and schools throughout the state are the direct service providers.

The Connecticut EBT Partnership has facilitated the dissemination of 10 evidence-based treatments, trained over 800 clinicians to provide EBTs at more than 345 provider sites and schools, and served more than 29,000 youth and families statewide.

The partnership's research on EBTs demonstrates improved treatment outcomes compared to traditional methods, as well as reduced racial and ethnic disparities in treatment outcomes. The partners continue to advocate for EBT expansion and sustainable funding through peer-reviewed research articles, issue briefs, infographics, online resources, and other communication strategies.

More information about evidence-based and best practices in providing quality mental healthcare for children can be seen on the CHDI website. To locate a provider in Connecticut offering many of the evidence-based behavioral health treatments for children that were disseminated due to this partnership, go to https://ebp.dcf.ct.gov/ebpsearch/.