This episode features a conversation with Colleen Cicchetti and Caryn Curry from the Center for Childhood Resilience at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Colleen is the founder and long-time Executive Director of the nearly 20-year-old Center, focused on providing access to high0-quality mental health services for children and adolescents. Caryn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Consultant for CCR. A 30-year veteran in the field, Caryn provides training, consultation and expertise for schools and school systems as well as out-of-school community and youth-serving organizations to build the capacity of adult educators and care-givers around trauma-informed and healing centered systems and practices, a capacity that ultimately underpins effective teaching and learning and positive youth development. 

In Part 1 of their conversation, Colleen, Caryn and Jason talk about the state of mental health among young people today, including the many societal forces affecting it, the origins of the Center for Childhood Resilience and the reasons for taking on the role of adult capacity building rather than direct student mental health services, and some of the the aspects of mental health specific to young adolescents.

Additional Readings and Resources

• Center for Childhood Resilience
  • Behavioral Health Team Model
  • Trauma training
  • Trauma-Responsive Schools
• Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH) Statewide Initiative
• Lurie Children’s Hospital
• Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning
• Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards
• Illinois Children’s Mental Health Partnership
• Boys and Girls Club of Chicago
• DePaul Community Health Centers
• Girls Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana