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Use of the Breakthrough Series Collaborative to Support Broad and Sustained Use of Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment for Children in Community Practice Settings

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Abstract

Empirically supported treatments for posttraumatic stress reactions in children are not widely available. This observational study evaluates the feasibility and utility of adapting the Institute for Healthcare’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative (BSC) to support the broad implementation and sustained use of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) in community practice settings. Study findings indicated that agency staff in diverse roles viewed the BSC methodology as a valuable and practicable approach for facilitating skillful delivery of TF-CBT with fidelity. Use of TF-CBT increased over the course of the collaborative and findings from a survey conducted one year later indicated that participating agencies were able to sustain and spread the practice.

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Notes

  1. For more information about network centers, products, and resources please see the NCTSN website (www.nctsn.org).

  2. Data from nine sites available.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by grant number 2U79SM054284 from the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies, and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS. The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of the organizations that participated in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Breakthrough Series for Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and of the developers of TF-CBT, Drs. Judith Cohen, Esther Deblinger, and Anthony Mannarino.

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Ebert, L., Amaya-Jackson, L., Markiewicz, J.M. et al. Use of the Breakthrough Series Collaborative to Support Broad and Sustained Use of Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment for Children in Community Practice Settings. Adm Policy Ment Health 39, 187–199 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-011-0347-y

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