DeLauro Announces $1.6 Million to Combat Traumatic Stress

DeLauro Announces $1.6 Million to Combat Traumatic Stress

- Will Allow Expansion of Clifford Beers Clinic Services to Children and Family -

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Children and families in the greater New Haven area will soon have increased services to address traumatic stress, Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) announced today. In a visit to the Clifford Beers Clinic, DeLauro announced $1.6 million in federal funding that the clinic will use to form The Clifford Beers Child and Family Traumatic Stress Treatment Center. The funding was awarded through the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative - a program DeLauro works to ensure is fully funded each year. Clifford Beers is one of only 19 programs in the nation to receive this funding.

"Exposure to traumatic events in childhood is more commonplace than most people imagine," said DeLauro. "The stress brought on by this exposure has serious implications for children and residual effects on the family. The greater New Haven area is blessed to have the services of the Clifford Beers Clinic. With this funding, even more children and families will benefit from their services."

The Clifford Beers Child and Family Traumatic Stress Treatment Center will provide services to children and their families who have experienced traumatic life events. In addition, it will evaluate the effectiveness of trauma treatment and promote trauma informed services in the Greater New Haven community service systems.

"Clifford Beers Clinic staff is honored to be recognized for their commitment and hard work in the field of child traumatic stress treatment," said Dr. Alice Forrester, Clifford Beers Associate Executive Director. "We are looking forward to creating a center of excellence for trauma treatment that will serve the children and families in the Greater New Haven Region, but also support and grow a network of community providers working with traumatized children and their families."

More than 25% of American youth experience a serious traumatic event by their 16th birthday, and many children suffer multiple and repeated traumas throughout their childhoods. An estimated 1480 children per year utilize services at Clifford Beers Clinic. Some examples of traumatic life events are: exposure to abuse and neglect, sexual abuse, witnessing violence in their home, neighborhood or school, living through a traumatic death of a loved one, or being separated from parents

Clifford Beers is the oldest outpatient, behavioral health clinic in the United States. The Clinic specializes in a number of services for children and families including treatment for children who have been sexually or physically abused, neglected, or are dealing with other traumatic life experiences. Clifford Beers staff are active members and leaders in community groups that are focused on addressing child trauma exposure. For example, Clifford Beers clinicians have chaired the Children Affected by Domestic Violence sub-committee of the Greater New Haven Domestic Violence Task Force, and have Chaired the Multidisciplinary Investigative Team of Greater New Haven, made up of police, judiciary and clinical forensic experts gathered together to facilitate services for children who have disclosed sexual abuse and domestic violence.

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/November/traumatic_stress_11_07_05.html