As one of the largest, most widely recognized nonprofit child welfare agencies in Kansas, Youthville is adopting Dr. Bruce Perry's Neruosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) as its new clinical framework. Dr. Perry, Senior Fellow at the ChildTrauma Academy, is an internationally renowned expert in the field of child trauma research and treatment.
NMT is a trauma-informed treatment model that is specifically designed to promote healing for victims of childhood maltreatment. It is based upon Dr. Perry's extensive research into the impact of childhood trauma upon the developing brain. Through his research, Dr. Perry has developed a mechanism for identifying which parts of the brain have been most affected by maltreatment. With this knowledge, therapeutic interventions can be developed that specifically target these regions of the brain.
The 4,180 square foot Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) will allow Youthville to work directly with victims of childhood trauma and their caregivers to implement interventions based upon Dr. Bruce Perry's Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). The TRC is set to open in three phases. The first year will focus on foster children awaiting adoption in order to increase the number of children adopted, reduce the amount of time children are in foster care and decrease failed adoptions. During the second year, the TRC will focus upon expanding services to families who have adopted and are experiencing severe difficulties with their adopted child. TRC staff will provide treatment and support to strengthen adoptive families and prevent disruption. In the third year, the TRC will concentrate on expanding services to treat children and families in the community who have been affected by trauma.
The TRC differs from other approaches serving abused and neglected children in three important ways.
With the help of a federal line item appropriation, Youthville is able to better serve children waiting to be adopted. In January 2008, Congress approved $430,554 for a specialized program to treat children that have experienced severe childhood trauma and attachment difficulties. In order for the TRC to function effectively, ongoing financial support is needed. It is hoped that more than $400,000 can be raised annually to fund the program's operations. The line item appropriation by Congress allows for initial startup of the center and the first year of operation only. If you would like to become a Trauma Recovery Center partner, contact LeAnne Miller, Chief Advancement Officer at 316.529.9100 ext. 8256.
http://www.childtrauma.org The ChildTrauma Academy... The Academy is a not-for-profit organization based in Houston, Texas focused on education, service delivery and program consultation in the areas of child maltreatment.
http://www.cwla.org Child Welfare League of America... CWLA is an association with 1,000 public and private nonprofit agencies that assist over 2.5 million abused and neglected children each year by providing resources for families and professionals working with traumatized children.
http://www.kansas.com/814/story/523028.html Wichita Eagle: Youthville program new way to help traumatized kids... Youthville has joined with Dr. Bruce Perry, senior fellow of the Houston-based ChildTrauma Academy, to adopt a new framework for treating children in foster care, psychiatric residential facilities and other settings. The approach could become a model for other communities.