Current and Affiliated NCTSN Organizational Members

The Children’s Sexual-Related Trauma Advocacy, Response and Treatment Center (C-START), a Community Treatment and Services Center, will build agency and community-wide capacity to deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally competent treatment interventions in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties for child victims of sexual abuse and for children with sexual behavior problems in the child welfare system. The children and caregivers participating in this program will come from diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, reflective of the population of South Florida. A projected 1,446 children will receive evidence-supported treatment during the four years of the project.

Trauma-Informed Care for Youth (TICY) and Families Residing in Lake County will use Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) to treat and serve children and adolescents, aged 2–18, and their families who have witnessed or experienced traumatic events. TICY will develop expertise in trauma care and become a leader in enhancing trauma-informed care in the community by providing training on the symptoms, impact, and treatment of trauma. The project will serve 1,000 clients in direct clinical services. Priority will be given to military families.

Through the Latino Child Trauma Stress Initiative (LCTSI) Project, Latino Health Institute, Inc. (LHI) is improving access to and quality of treatment and intervention services for Latino children and their families living in the Greater Boston area who have been impacted by traumatic events. The program is also focused on working with mental health providers that serve Latinos in Greater Boston and in other areas of Massachusetts to increase their knowledge of evidence-based interventions. The target population has experienced losses, domestic and community violence, disasters, severe and chronic neglect, physical and sexual abuse, and chronic trauma. Using a consensus-building model, LHI works closely with community stakeholders, and the NCTSN centers to enhance its capacity to adapt, implement, and evaluate evidence-based interventions.

To gain a better understanding of the needs of the target population and to implement strategies to address those needs, the project is working with consumers; community providers; trauma experts; and representatives from state agencies and from other service agencies in the fields of child welfare, trauma, and Latino mental health. In addition, LIH is educating and training private and governmental providers on treatment needs of trauma-exposed Latino children, and on effective trauma-informed services and trauma-focused interventions, beginning with Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

The Louisiana Rural Trauma Services Center (LRTSC) provides and enhances urgently needed crisis and mental health services for underserved children, adolescents, and families in rural Louisiana who have experienced traumatic stress as a result of disasters, community and family violence, accidents, loss of family members, and medical conditions. LRTSC works directly with rural hospitals and with school districts to conduct professional trainings that are developmentally sensitive and specific to aspects of crisis response. In schools, LRTSC professionals train staff to recognize the signs of trauma exposure, to differentiate children's responses to crisis situations, and to mitigate the impact of trauma. In 2004, at the request of the Louisiana 24th Judicial District, LRTSC expanded its mission to include work with trauma-exposed children and families who present in court. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, LRTSC has been providing services to children and families evacuated from New Orleans and now residing in rural parishes. Community advisory boards comprising community stakeholders provide input to LRTSC and collaborative partners for the LRTSC including the Louisiana State Department of Education, the Office of Mental Health, and public and community hospitals. Refunded in 2008, LRTSC will provide and evaluate a continuum of care of trauma-focused trainings, interventions, and services for children and adolescents aged 3?{18, including children of military families, in schools in Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines parishes that were heavily impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Due to the extent of the devastation and the complexity of recovery, training and service models will be adapted, modified for cultural sensitivity, and implemented to meet needs at this time. LRTSC has a strong commitment to providing culturally competent, evidence-based services, collaborating with Network members in meeting the goals of the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. Services are offered within school and preschool settings with parent, student, and school support. LRTSC will work at consensus building with input from families, school and military personnel, community, service providers, and other stakeholders in modifying trauma-focused practices and services with sensitivity to cultural competence.