Counseling Access for Healthy Tomorrows (CAHT)
Grant Status: Completed
Training Category: Healthy Tomorrows Partnership for Children Program (HTPCP)
Project Director(s):
Robin Haldiman, CEO
Child Health Investment Partnership
1201 Third Street SW
Roanoke, VA 24016
Email: robin.haldiman@chiprv.org
Problem:
Counseling Access for Healthy Tomorrows (CAHT) will expand Child Health Investment Partnership of Roanoke Valley's (CHIP-RV) home visiting program to include therapeutic counseling and play therapy in order to provide a full continuum of care for CHIP-enrolled, low-income families. CHIP-RV's home visiting model is expanding to provide counseling to those enrolled families (caregivers and children) who have experienced trauma or suffer from depression.
Goals and Objectives:
Project Goal: To implement a counseling component to CHIP's comprehensive, health-focused home visiting model in order to offer a full continuum of care for underserved women/children. Objective 1: Implement counseling by licensed professionals utilizing trauma informed modalities through delivery of play therapy to children and psychotherapy to caregivers of CHIP-RV enrolled children. Objective 2: Create a best practice model for replicating protocol and procedures with input from key stakeholders including local families, community members, AAP and MCH representatives and various agencies in order to replicate the Counseling Access for Healthy Tomorrows project statewide and nationally.
Methodology:
Home visits will encompass care coordination, family strengthening and mental health and will include AAP Bright Futures among other evidence-based curricula and screenings. Support groups conducted through the CAHT project will target CHIP caregivers (parents, grandparents and other relatives). By maintaining the trust of the family within the home environment, counseling may be more effective when provided by CHIP-RV counselors, instead of outsourcing the counseling to those without a direct history with the child or mom. Trainings will be provided to pediatricians from all local hospital systems and medical school students with a focus on the link between behavioral health and overall health. Transportation and childcare will be provided for counseling sessions in order to increase compliance rates.
Coordination:
The project will establish a Mental Health Advisory Committee (MHAC) with membership from State AAP, local MCH, local pediatricians, research scientists, CHIP parents and other key stakeholders in order to maintain best practice, fidelity to project outcomes and steer the project.
Evaluation:
Validated assessment tools (e.g., SDQ-T, SDQ-P, DSMV, ASQ, CESD) will be used alongside other health, educational, and employment data to assess short-and-long term outcomes related to mental health, resiliency, and quality of life. Pre-post assessments and comparisons with those offered but declining services will allow for assessment of project success. Impact will be evidenced through policy change, peer-reviewed presentations/publications, and enhanced mental health awareness among clients and community stakeholders along with heightened collaborative community efforts toward integrated care.