St. David’s Foundation has awarded a $462,000 grant to the Center for Child Protection for the Mental Health Improvement & Expansion Initiative, enabling the Center to become site certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT).
Established through The ChildTrauma Academy, a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of high-risk children, NMT is a developmentally sensitive, neurobiology-informed approach to clinical problem solving. This approach focuses on each child’s specific neurodevelopment and traumatic experiences, which leads to training/capacity building, assessment and recommendations of how to proceed with treatments based on the needs and strength of the individual.
“Over the next two years, the Center for Child Protection will be pursuing site certification in NMT through The Child Trauma Academy,” Barbara Jefferson, Center for Child Protection Clinical Director, said. “This model will allow us to provide a neurobiological-informed approach to assessment and assist in guiding us in providing the most effective therapeutic services for children based on their trauma experience through abuse, neglect or witnessing a violent crime.”
When an outcry of abuse is confirmed, the Center offers individual and family therapy to children, teens and their families so that they may process their experiences and begin healing from the abuse they have endured. Treatment is individualized to meet emotional, psychological and developmental needs. The Mental Health Improvement and Expansion Initiative will strengthen the Center’s capacity to provide the highest quality clinical services to the highest-need children and families.
“It is a unique opportunity for the Center to join renowned experts on the cutting edge of treating trauma and address its effects on brain development,” Michael Torres, Center for Child Protection executive director, said. “With the help of St. David’s Foundation, we will become site certified and continue to provide high quality, evidence-based, trauma-informed care.”
In June 2015, St. David’s Foundation awarded grants totaling $26,840,492 to over 35 local nonprofit organizations who provide a variety of healthcare-related services in Central Texas.
About the Center for Child Protection
The Center for Child Protection is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center and the only nonprofit in Travis County involved in the investigation of crimes against children. For more than 25 years, the Center has been the first stop for children in Travis County who are suspected victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and for children who have witnessed a violent crime. The Center is a child-friendly, specially-equipped facility where children go for recorded forensic interviews, medical exams, counseling and intervention during the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. All services are provided to children and their protective caregivers at no charge and are available in both English and Spanish. In 2014, the Center conducted 796 forensic interviews, provided 3,959 services to children and 3,829 services to adults. For more information, visit www.centerforchildprotection.org.
About The ChildTrauma Academy
The ChildTrauma Academy (CTA) is a not-for-profit organization based in Houston, Texas, working to improve the lives of high-risk children through direct service, research and education. A major activity of the CTA is to translate emerging findings about the human brain and child development into practical implications for the ways we nurture, protect, enrich, educate and heal children. The “translational neuroscience” work of the CTA has resulted in a range of innovative programs in therapeutic, child protection and educational systems. For more information, visit www.childtrauma.org.
About St. David’s Foundation:
St. David’s Foundation believes good health returns great benefits to the community. Through a unique partnership, the Foundation reinvests proceeds from St. David’s HealthCare to help build the healthiest community in the world. The Foundation helps people in every corner of the community through signature programs and collaborations with more than 60 nonprofit partners. In 2015, the Foundation is investing $65 million to connect thousands of low-income people to a full range of health services. Foundation signature programs include the largest scholarship program in Texas for aspiring health professionals, and the largest mobile dental program in the country. Other focus areas include safety net clinics, agencies serving older adults, mental health initiatives, and support for healthy living initiatives. For more information on St. David’s Foundation visit www.stdavidsfoundation.org.
Contact Info
Center for Child Protection
8509 FM 969, Building 2
Austin, Texas 78724
Phone: 512-472-1164
Fax: 512-472-1167
Web: centerforchildprotection.org
