CURRENT PROJECTS

The Casey Family Project for Children in Foster Care

Casey Research Services, Casey Family Programs, the REACH Institute, North Shore Hospitals, Harvard Medical School, and The Annie E. Casey Foundation are collaborating to improve the mental health functioning of youth in foster care by focusing on four related conditions that limit the functioning and development of youth in out-of-home care; and where there are well-formulated treatments: (1) Depression, (2) Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD), (3) ADHD, and (4) Impulsive aggression.

In addition to offering formalized treatment training to clinicians in managing specific conditions, this program also includes in-depth training and support in screening and assessment of youths' mental health needs, a Parent Engagement and Self-Advocacy  -- PESA -- program (a variation of PEP, specifically designed for birth- and foster-parents in the child welfare system), and a youth peer-to-peer advocacy program (Youth Taking Charge).

This project is being deployed in two cities, New York and Texas, in partnership with city- and state-level government agencies, as well as with provider agencies contracted to deliver foster care services. 

Current child welfare agencies and government partners participating in this EASSY project include:

Administration for Children's Serv ices (ACS), NYC, NY

Depelchin Children's Center, Houston, TX

Edmund Gould Services for Children and Families, NY, NY

Children's Village, NY, NY

Family Support Services Unlimited, Inc., NY, NY

Harlem-Dowling - West Side Center, NY, NY

SCO Family of Services, NY, NY

Additional details of the program's implementation are available here.

For more information about this program, contact the project director, Lisa Hunter Romanelli at lisa@thereachinstitute.org.