The Institute for Family Health Receives Inaugural Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Funding to Expand Program Focused on Childhood Trauma in Kingston, NY

Kingston, NY (March 12, 2020) – The Institute for Family Health was awarded a one-year, $123,470 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for its Building a Trauma Resilient (BTR) Kingston initiative, a community effort in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley dedicated to helping children and families impacted by trauma. Funds will enable the Institute and its program partner, the Kingston City School District (KCSD), to build a “trauma-informed culture” at KCSD elementary schools as well as the Institute’s Kingston Family Health Center, which serves 12,000 patients annually. Additionally, the funds will support a training initiative for resident physicians at the Institute’s Mid-Hudson Family Medicine Residency program that will support them to engage in community activities to provide better care to children experiencing trauma.

Dr. Neil Calman, the Institute’s co-founder, president and CEO said, “Evidence demonstrates that traumatic events experienced in childhood—also called ‘traumatic stressors,’ or ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’—are highly correlated with both physical and behavioral health problems later in life. We are delighted to have this support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, so we can expand our efforts to reach more Kingston children and families affected by trauma.”

BTR Kingston trains health professionals, public school teachers and administrators, and family medicine residents to build resilience among children and families impacted by trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) so that they can lead healthy lives. Examples of ACEs include physical, emotional, or sexual abuse; household challenges, such as domestic violence or parental divorce; and emotional or physical neglect. However, evidence demonstrates that targeted interventions can build resilience against childhood stressors, potentially reducing their impact on health.

“The impact of the trauma work has been enormous for the JFK community,” said Melissa Jameison, principal of JFK Elementary School. “We have shifted our thinking from ‘What is wrong with you?’ to ‘What has happened to you?’ and ‘What is strong in you?’. It has made an impact even with our students who have the most challenging behaviors.”

In the coming year, the Institute and KCSD will conduct additional training for school and health center staff to better recognize and respond to children experiencing trauma; screen and refer children experiencing trauma to appropriate resources; and equip parents with tools to recognize, prevent, and address trauma in their children.

The Institute’s award is part of $150 million in grants made by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation across New York State this year. The grants are helping to fund more than 500 activities, programs, and initiatives in 2020 focused on improving the health and quality of life for low-income and underserved communities.

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The Institute for Family Health (www.institute.org) is a federally qualified health center network that operates 32 practices in New York State serving more than 115,000 patients annually.  Services are available to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay.