Evaluation results of an initiative to increase trauma-informed care

Adults receiving treatment for mental illness, substance abuse, and co-occurring psychiatric and addictive disorders are highly likely to be survivors of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse, other violence, and combat-related trauma. Despite the prevalence of these experiences among adults seeking treatment, many agencies and community mental health programs have not designed programs or environments that are sensitive to trauma-related treatment issues. The Trauma Center of Excellence Initiative was launched by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) in 2005 to develop awareness, policy, and training in trauma-informed care. The Trauma Initiative is a partnership between DMHAS and the Connecticut Women's Consortium, with consultation from Community Connections in Washington, DC. Through this initiative, three Connecticut Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) in Northwest CT participated in meetings and other events intended to create trauma-informed systems change. During the summer of 2006, an evaluation assessed the impact of the Trauma Initiative at each of these sites, through semi-structured individual interviews with key informants and focus groups with staff members and consumers. This presentation will describe some of the actions undertaken by the LMHAs to make their systems more trauma-informed, and the results of the evaluation of the initiative. The evaluation showed positive accomplishments, with variations in quantity and quality of change among the LMHAs. The discussion will include description of changes in the next phase of the initiative to improve implementation.