Indiana University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry faculty aim to increase mental health services for children and families who experience traumatic events with the support of a $2 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Led by Zachary Adams, PhD, clinical psychologist and assistant professor of Psychiatry, the project award will fund the creation of the Indiana Interdisciplinary Trauma and Resilience Education Partnership for Implementation and Dissemination (INTREPID) Center in the IU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry. The Indiana INTREPID Center is a Category III (“Community Treatment and Services Centers”) Center within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) and is one of only two such centers in the state.
NCTSN was created by Congress in 2000 as part of the Children’s Health Act to increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events, including physical, sexual or psychological abuse; natural disasters; family or community violence; and a sudden or violent loss of a loved one.
“As recent events across our country and in our own backyard remind us, there is a critical need for programs that increase the supports available to people impacted by traumatic events,” Adams said. “The overarching purpose of the Indiana INTREPID Center is to expand the statewide delivery and accessibility of high quality, evidence-based, trauma-focused services across systems and settings for youth and families in Indiana.”
The 5-year funding grant will also allow Dr. Adams and his team to focus on two additional goals:
- Increase statewide workforce to provide evidence-based assessment and treatment services in clinic- and school-based settings through a series of intensive trainings for clinicians and non-clinicians
- Provide coordinated education and outreach across youth-serving systems to accelerate implementation of trauma-informed practices and evidence-based strategies for promoting resilience
“Our team based at Riley Hospital for Children is thrilled to be partnering with several community mental health centers and other statewide leaders, as well as other NCTSN-funded Centers across the country, to carry out this work,” Adams added.
