Grant for $225,000 to address

trauma in at-risk youth

 

The Care Management Coalition of Western New York, a group of agencies serving children and families, has received a grant of $225,000 over three years from the John R. Oishei Foundation for a project to address trauma in seriously emotionally disturbed youth in residential treatment. The project funds training and research occurring at New Directions Youth and Family Services.  

At-risk youth who haven’t addressed the trauma they have suffered often aren’t capable of benefiting from the behavior therapy, education and socialization they receive in placement.

Clinicians are being trained by Ricky Greenwald, Psy.D., executive director of the Child Trauma Institute in Greenfield, Massachusetts and a pioneer in research and treatment of traumatized children and adolescents. New Directions is collaborating with the University at Buffalo School of Social Work to produce research that will allow the project to be replicated in other institutions.

The pilot project began last year in Titan House, a 10-bed diagnostic unit, on the campus of New Directions’ Wyndham Lawn Home for Children in Lockport. This year it will expand to 100 youth at New Directions’ Randolph Children’s Home, a residential treatment center near Jamestown. The third year will include 60 youth in the residential treatment program at Wyndham Lawn.

In addition, all of the clinical staff at New Directions’ residential and foster care programs and clinical staff from Care Management Coalition member agencies will be trained to provide the advantages of trauma informed treatment to at-risk children in any of Western New York’s residential treatment settings.

       New Directions Youth and Family Services helps children with emotional and behavioral problems, along with their families. The agency offers preventive and community-based treatment, educational services, supervised independent living, therapeutic foster care, non-secure detention, group homes and residential treatment.

The John. R. Oishei Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for Buffalo area residents by supporting education, healthcare, scientific research and the cultural, social, civic and other charitable needs of the community. The Foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation.