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Building a Consumer Base for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a State System of Care

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Abstract

This paper documents the scope and limitations of an outreach effort to build a consumer base for Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy in a state public mental health system for children. Three key aspects are discussed: the fostering of an informed referral network, the development of screening and identification services, and the engagement of families. Referral, screening and engagement are each examined against the backdrop of existing literature on implementation and dissemination. Each aspect of the implementation plan is described in detail—as are the barriers encountered and lessons learned during the course of execution. We provide several recommendations to assist other efforts to implement Evidence-Based Treatments into state systems of care.

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Abbreviations

CAC:

Child Advocacy Center

DELJIS:

Delaware Criminal Justice Information System

DFS:

Division of Family Services

DPBHS:

Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services

DSCYF:

Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families

EBT:

Evidence-Based Treatment

FACTS:

Family and Child Tracking System

K-SADS:

Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children

MAYSI-2:

Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument—Second Version

PTSD:

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

TF-CBT:

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

UPID:

University of California Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV

UPID-A:

University of California Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV Abbreviated Version

UPID-P:

University of California Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Index for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV Parent Version

YRS:

Youth Rehabilitative Services

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Acknowledgments

The authors of this paper wish to thank the state of Delaware for affording us the time and resources for the completion of this work. We are particularly grateful to the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, Cabinet Secretary Vivian Rapposelli; the Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, Director Susan Cycyk, and the Division’s Child Well-Being Initiative; the Division of Family Services, previous Director Laura Miles; and the Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services, Director Carlyse Giddins.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Damion J. Grasso

  2. Delaware Division of Prevention and Behavioral Health Services, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Charles Webb & Andrew Cohen

  3. University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA

    Ilana Berman

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  1. Damion J. Grasso
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  2. Charles Webb
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  3. Andrew Cohen
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  4. Ilana Berman
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Correspondence to Damion J. Grasso.

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Grasso, D.J., Webb, C., Cohen, A. et al. Building a Consumer Base for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in a State System of Care. Adm Policy Ment Health 40, 240–254 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-012-0410-3

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