Stress of Being Outed to Parents and Caregivers: What Are the Mental Health Consequences? – February 29, 2024
Health Services
Affiliate Profile: Caitlin Elsaesser
Background Caitlin Elsaesser, PhD., LISCW, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Connecticut
Tips for Addressing Trauma and Learning
A CSCH Q & A about an article by Jessica Koslouski, Sandra Chafouleas, and Kristabel Stark
Steering Committee Member: Ravit Stein
Background Ravit R Stein, PhD, BCBA-D, NCSP, is the Director of Psychological and Behavioral Consultation at EASTCONN
UConn Today
UConn Centers Offer Free Professional Development to Local School Wellness Teams – September 13, 2023
Affiliate Profile: Rocio Chang-Angulo
Background Rocio Chang-Angulo, Psy.D. is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UConn Health and is a researcher, teacher, and clinician who focuses on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of psychological trauma in children, adolescents and adults
UConn Today
UConn Kinesiology Professor Explores Efficacy of Ride-On-Toy Navigation Training to Improve Motor Skills in Children with Cerebral Palsy – August 21, 2023
UConn Today
Confronting America’s Gun Violence Epidemic(s) – July 11, 2023
UConn Today
UConn Faculty Awarded $2M in Federal Funding to Support School Wellness in CT – June 16, 2023
CSCH and Rudd Center Receive Federal Funding to Support Comprehensive School Wellness
CSCH and the UConn Rudd Center have jointly received CDC funding to protect and improve the health and well-being of school-age children and adolescents
Episode 21: Restorative Justice and the School-Based Diversion Initiative
A discussion about an initiative in Connecticut that uses restorative practices to reduce juvenile justice involvement and improve school mental health outcomes.
The Daily Campus
UConn Waterbury’s W.I.S.H. Festival was a stunning success – April 20, 2023
UConn Today
UConn Waterbury Plays Host to First-Ever W.I.S.H. Fest – April 19, 2023
The Importance of Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Foster Care Adolescents and their Caregivers
A CSCH Brief by Christina Ross, PhD, RN
Affiliate Profile: Michelle Cole
Background Michelle Cole, DNP, MSN, RN, CPN, is an Associate Clinical Professor in the UConn School of Nursing. Her main areas of scholarship involve global health, global learning, and pediatric health
UConn Today
Public Health Insurance for Parents Improves Children’s Reading Skills, UConn HDFS Study Finds – March 13, 2023
The WSCC Blueprints: Guides for Implementing Practices and Policies Aligned with the WSCC Model
A CSCH Brief by Kathleen M. Williamson, Jessica B. Koslouski, Helene M. Marcy & Sandra M. Chafouleas
Episode 18: The WSCC Blueprints – helping schools integrate health and learning
CSCH Postdoctoral Scholars Jessica Koslouski and Kathleen Williamson describe the CSCH WSCC Blueprint tools geared to helping schools implement the WSCC model.
Steering Committee Member: Damion Grasso
Background Damion Grasso, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine
CT Mirror
A Sandy Hook reflection: Gun violence is preventable — if we want – December 14, 2022
UConn Today
Derek Houston Brings New Expertise on Auditory Experiences, Language Development to UConn – November 30, 2022
Affiliate Profile: Rachel Chazen Cohen
Background Dr. Rachal Chazan Cohen Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Human Development and Family Sciences Department at the University of Connecticut. Her main research interest is in how early childhood programs support children’s development and family well-being
UConn Today
Helping Schools Put ‘Whole Child’ into Policy and Practice – September 20, 2022
UConn Today
UConn Social Work Scholar Mogro-Wilson Achieves a Pair of ‘Firsts’ in Reaching Milestones – September 14, 2022
Affiliate Profile: Eileen Condon
Background Dr. Eileen Condon Ph.D., APRN, FNP-BC is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing. Her interests are in promoting health and health equity among children and families who are socially and economically marginalized
UConn Today
Belonging Runs Deep Among Physical Therapy Students, Faculty, and Staff – August 26, 2022
New CSCH Steering Committee Members
We are pleased to announce that we have three new CSCH Steering Committee Members joining us this fall
UConn Today
UConn Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Encourages Experiential Learning, Sees Tremendous Student Success – July 21, 2022
UConn Today
UConn Study Finds Interprofessional Communication May Aid Family Reunification in Child Welfare Cases – July 20, 2022
UConn Today
Multidisciplinary Team Wins $3M for Graduate Programs – June 28, 2022
How do School Policies Align with the WSCC Model? A Connecticut Evaluation
A CSCH Brief by Helene M. Marcy, Sandra M. Chafouleas, Marlene B. Schwartz, and Sarah L. McKee
Episode 15: The State of Social Emotional Learning in Connecticut
CSCH Co-Director Sandra Chafouleas interviews a panel of experts on the state of social emotional learning in Connecticut.
UConn Today
Standing Against Despair – May 26, 2022
NBC Connecticut
Free School Lunch Program Coming to an End – April 15, 2022
Black Women are Dying from Childbirth: What You Need to Know
A CSCH Brief by Angel Ojide, Emily A. Iovino, Jessica Koslouski, Sandra M. Chafouleas, and Helene M. Marcy
UConn Today
Nurse Researcher Receives $15,000 Grant from UConn InCHIP to Investigate Inherited Stress in Black Mothers and Preterm Infants – April 11, 2022
Q & A on the Human Rights of Children
We recently interviewed Richard Hiskes about his thoughts on the human rights of children for a CSCH Podcast Episode.
Episode 14: Do Children Have Human Rights?
CSCH Co-Director Sandra Chafouleas interviews UConn Professor Emeritus Richard Hiskes about his thoughts on the human rights of children.
The Role of Early Head Start in Supporting Families with Diverse Strengths and Needs
A CSCH Brief by Caitlin McPherran Lombardi, Kyle DeMeo Cook, and Eleanor Fisk
Affiliate Profile: Christina Ross
Background Christina Ross PhD, RN, is an Assistant Professor in the UConn School of Nursing. Her main research interests focus on the promotion of sexual and reproductive health among vulnerable youth, specifically African-American girls in foster care.
The UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health
Learn about CSCH and what we’ve accomplished so far. 
UConn Today
Nurse Researcher Receives Health Equity Research Award – February 16, 2022
Trauma Informed Education Podcast
Multi-tiered Trauma Informed Support with Prof. Sandra Chafouleas – February 11, 2022
The Conversation
Pandemic-related school closings likely to have far-reaching effects on child well-being – February 9, 2022
CT News Junkie
COVID-19 Has Left Children In Crisis; CT Should Improve Access To Mental Health Care – December 13, 2021
UConn Today
Nurse Researcher Receives NIH Grant to Help Women Manage Breastfeeding Pain – December 9, 2021
Evaluating a Facebook Group Self-Care Intervention for Caregivers of Children with Disabilities
A CSCH Brief by Emily A. Iovino, Hannah Y. Perry, Sandra M. Chafouleas, Jessica Koslouski, & Helene M. Marcy
UConn Today
Nurse Researcher Xiaomei Cong Receives the 2021 Virginia A. Henderson Award – October 20, 2021
WNPR
Back To School 2021: Supporting The Social And Emotional Needs Of Students – September 2, 2021
The Conversation
Students are returning to school with anxiety, grief and gaps in social skills – will there be enough school mental health resources? – August 23, 2021
WSCC Resources for Schools
CSCH is pleased to announce its NEW Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model (WSCC) resources for schools
WellSAT WSCC: A Comprehensive Tool for Evaluating School Wellness Policies
A CSCH Brief by Breanna McFarlane, Sandra M. Chafouleas, Marlene B. Schwartz, Helene M. Marcy, Jessica Koslouski, and Emily Iovino
Back to School Resources: Aligning Guidance with the WSCC Model, V3
A CSCH Crosswalk written by Emily A. Iovino, Sandra M. Chafouleas, and Hanna Y. Perry
The Conversation
Millions of kids get suspended or expelled each year – but it doesn’t address the root of the behavior – August 11, 2021
UConn Today
UConn Researcher Adapting Mindfulness Program for LGBTQIA+ Youth for Online Use – August 5, 2021
UConn Today
Five Weeks at B.R.A.I.N. Camp Could Give Kids a Brighter Future – July 20, 2021
CT Post
Can gut health fight COVID? UConn researchers examine the link – May 24, 2021
Q & A on the UConn Mind-Body Health Research Interest Group
CSCH Affiliate Melissa Bray is one of the directors of the UConn Mind-Body Health Research Interest Group. Bray recently answered some questions about how she got interested in mind-body health (MBH), why it’s beneficial and how schools can incorporate MBH interventions into their SEL curriculum.
UConn Today
UConn Selected to Help Create National Network on Emotional Wellbeing Research – May 5, 2021
EdSurge
What Can Teachers Learn From Students’ Brainwaves? – May 4, 2021
UConn Today
UConn Health Researchers Receive a $3.1 Million Dollar Grant to Study Pandemic-Related Stress in Families with Infants – April 22, 2021
UConn Today
The Role of Communities in Refugee Resettlement – April 21, 2021
The CT Mirror
Reopening schools requires doing less, better – April 7, 2021
The Conversation
How social media turns online arguments between teens into real-world violence – April 5, 2021
Systems Synergy: How Reducing Poverty Can Prevent Child Neglect
A CSCH Brief by Kerri M. Raissian, Megan Feely and Helene M. Marcy
Affiliate Profile: Fumiko Hoeft
Background Fumiko Hoeft MD, PhD is a Professor of Psychological Sciences, Director of the Brain Imaging Research Center (BIRC) at UConn, and Director of Laboratory for Learning Engineering and Neural Systems (brainLENS) at UConn/University of California San Francisco. She is a psychiatrist and neurophysiologist by training, turned developmental cognitive neuroscientist
UConn Today
Too Hot or Too Cold? UConn Researcher Finds ‘Goldilocks Problem’ in Child Welfare Decision-Making – March 9, 2021
UConn Today
Public Policy, Social Work Researchers: Antipoverty Programs Can Help Reduce Child Neglect – February 22, 2021
UConn Magazine
Helping Kids Decode their Brains – February 15, 2021
UConn Today
Nurse Researchers Study How to Increase COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination Among Underserved Hispanic Families – February 1, 2021
UConn Today
Onset of COVID Pandemic Significantly Threatened CT School Meal Programs – January 28, 2021
Podcast Series: CSCH Spotlight on Well-being During COVID
CSCH recently completed a survey of district and school leaders about how the pandemic has affected their priorities and concerns. Results indicated that one of their biggest worries is social and emotional wellness. That prompted us to do a podcast series on the topic.
Episode 10: CSCH Spotlight on Well-being During COVID: Child Wellness
CSCH Steering Committee member Jeana Bracey, CSCH Affiliate Damion Grasso, and Michelle Doucette Cunningham discuss what schools and communities can do to promote child wellness during COVID-19.
NBC Connecticut
UConn Professor Starts Foundation to Help Empower Those Affected by Rare Diseases – November 11, 2020
UConn Today
Concerns About Child’s Weight Increase Risk for Family Weight Teasing – November 9, 2020
Affiliate Profile: Jessica Hollenbach
Background Jessica Hollenbach, Ph.D. is Co-Director of the Asthma Center at Connecticut Children’s and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Her primary research interests include the implementation and dissemination of effective asthma programs in underprivileged communities
Connecticut School Administrator Perspectives on Shifting Priorities During COVID-19
A CSCH Brief by Sandra M. Chafouleas, Emily A. Iovino, Marlene B. Schwartz, & Helene M. Marcy
A 2020 Focus on the Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Well-Being of College Students
A CSCH Brief by Emily A. Iovino, Jannell Brown, Alyssa Bunyea, Breanna McFarlane, Angel Ojide, Hannah Perry, Daniel Schwartzman, Cyrus Smith, and Sandra M. Chafouleas
UConn Today
Schooling, Caregiving, and Emotional Support during COVID – October 7, 2020
Affiliate Profile: Maria LaRusso
Background Maria LaRusso, EdD is an Assistant Professor in UConn’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her primary research concerns how children’s growth and well-being is shaped by relationships and supports across different contexts
UConn Today
Weight Stigma Predicts Emotional Distress and Binge Eating During COVID-19 – September 10, 2020
Affiliate Profile: Jon Phillips
Background Jon Phillips, PhD is an Assistant Professor at UConn’s School of Social Work. His primary research concerns inter-professional collaboration in people-serving systems. Phillips is particularly interested in the child welfare system
UConn Today
Strategies for Fostering an Emotionally Safe School Environment – July 10, 2020
Responding to COVID-19: Simple Strategies Anyone Can Use to Foster an Emotionally Safe School Environment
A CSCH Report written by Sandra M. Chafouleas, Taylor A. Koriakin, Emily A. Iovino, Jeana Bracey, & Helene M. Marcy
Neag Foundation Provides CSCH with Two-year Grant
The Neag Foundation has provided the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health with a two-year grant to facilitate work in the Think about the Link Project
Responding to COVID-19: Planning for Trauma-Informed Assessment in Schools
A CSCH Report written by Sandra M. Chafouleas and Helene M. Marcy
UConn Today
As Families Struggle During Pandemic, Children At High Risk for Neglect – April 27, 2020
The Conversation
5 things college students should include in a plan for their wellness – April 27, 2020
Preventing Child Neglect: Looking at the problem through a macro lens
A CSCH Brief written by Kerri M. Raissian, Megan Feely, Daniel Schwartzman and Helene M. Marcy
UConn Today
Coping With COVID? Mastering Social (But Not Emotional) Distancing – March 19, 2020
Helping Babies and Families: How states address the needs of opiate-exposed infants
A CSCH Brief written by Margaret H. Lloyd and Helene M. Marcy
Family Treatment Court Best Practices
Children and families affected by a parent’s addiction served in family treatment courts (FTCs) experience a range of positive outcomes compared to traditional child welfare courts. This rigorous quasi-experimental study examines how FTC Best Practice Standards are being implemented and looks at their effectiveness (including cost benefit analysis) for quickly and permanently reuniting safe and […]
Project Profile: Family Treatment Court Best Practices
Oklahoma Multi-Site Family Treatment Court Model Standards Study Principal Investigator: Margaret Lloyd, UConn School of Social Work Key Partners: The OKMSS will be conducted in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Episode 5: The Self-Care of Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities
CSCH Co-Director Sandra Chafouleas and CSCH Affiliate Emily Iovino discuss their study looking at how the caregivers of children with developmental disabilities define and view their own self-care
CSCH Features Affiliate Dr. Ryan Watson
CSCH highlighted the work of HDFS Assistant Professor Ryan Watson in December and January. We interviewed Dr. Watson for a two-part podcast about his research. In Part 1 Watson discussed his research on disparities in access to HIV prevention tools among young men who have sex with men. In Part 2 he discussed his research […]
Supporting Gender Expansive Youth: Considerations for Healthcare Providers
A CSCH Brief written by Katherine Connolly
Episode 4: LGBTQ Youth and Substance Abuse
CSCH Affiliate Ryan Watson discusses his research on sexual and gender minority youth and their substance abuse. (Part 2 of two episodes on Dr. Watson’s research).
UConn Today
Researchers: Look at factors outside the family that cause child neglect – December 2, 2019
Episode 3: Disparities in Access to HIV Prevention Tools
CSCH Affiliate Ryan Watson discusses his research on disparities in access to HIV prevention tools among men who have sex with men (Part 1 of two episodes on Dr. Watson’s research).
The Great American Smokeout: Tackling the Vaping Epidemic in Schools
A CSCH Brief by CSCH Undergraduate Researcher Daniel Schwartzman
WellSAT WSCC 2.0
The WellSAT WSCC is a school policy evaluation tool aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, and Whole Child (WSCC) model that builds on the history of the WellSAT, which is an evaluation tool for evaluation of school wellness policy.
Stress: Family Caregivers of Children with Disabilities
A CSCH Brief written by Emily Auerbach, Hannah Perry, & Sandra M. Chafouleas
Project Profile: Addressing Teacher Well-being
Applying the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program to Address Teacher Well-being: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study Co-Principal Investigators: Lisa Sanetti, Department of Educational Psychology and Alicia Dugan, Division of Occupational & Environmental Medicine at UConn Health. Co-Investigator: Michele Femc-Bagwell, Department of Educational Leadership
UConn Today
CSCH Co-Hosts Second Symposium on Trauma-Informed Mental Health – October 29, 2019
UConn Today
Migrant Children’s Rights to Health and Rehabilitation – October 28, 2019
Migrant Children’s Rights to Health and Rehabilitation
A CSCH Brief written by Megan Berthold and Kathryn Libal
CSCH Hosts Second Symposium on Childhood Trauma, Mental Health
On October 23, 2019, CSCH cosponsored and hosted the “Symposium on Trauma-Informed School Mental Health 2.0.” Approximately 70 school, behavioral health, community, and research leaders from across the state gathered at the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs to discuss school and community responses to childhood trauma and how to align work around trauma-informed schools […]
UConn Today
Ample Ads and Confusing Labels Drive Children’s Sweetened Drink Sales – October 16, 2019
UConn Today
Targeting Alcohol Abuse with Emotion Regulation Strategies – October 16, 2019
UConn Today
App Endgame: Detect Dyslexia Earlier – October 7, 2019
Episode 2: What is the WellSAT WSCC?
CSCH Co-Director Sandra Chafouleas and CSCH Steering Committee Member Marlene Schwartz discuss their work developing the WellSAT WSCC Tool.
Introducing the WellSAT WSCC Tool
The UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health and the UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity are pleased to announce the release of the WellSAT WSCC, a comprehensive school policy evaluation tool aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.
Episode 1: Using a Team Science Approach to Advance Pain Research
CSCH Steering Committee member Lisa Sanetti interviews CSCH affiliates Xiaomei Cong and Angela Starkweather about their work in the UConn Center for Advancement in Managing Pain.
School-Based Health Centers: A Means to Meet the WSCC Model
A CSCH Report written by Katherine Bernier Carney, Carol Polifroni, and Alison Moriarty Daley
Thinking About the Link Between Health and Learning CSCH Video Series
Our video modules provide an overview of the WSCC Model and its ten domains:
CSCH Undergraduate Researchers
Over the 2018-19 school year, CSCH faculty worked with two undergraduate students through the Office of Undergraduate Research. Their research on supporting student mental health through multi-tiered support systems culminated in a poster presentation at the UConn Frontiers Undergraduate poster exhibition.
Steering Committee Member: Beth Russell
Background Beth Russell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and is the Director of the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD), a CSCH partner. Russell studies self-regulation, in particular the regulation of psychological distress.
Building Links in Health and Education Undergraduate Event
On October 30, 2018 CSCH collaborated with the Public Health House Learning Community to host an event titled Field of Dreams: Building Links in Health and Education Using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model
CSCH #schoolequity Twitter Chat
Together with the UConn Neag School of Education, CSCH cohosted a Twitter Chat about the importance of bridging the gap between home and school for diverse students on Monday, October 10, 2018. The chat was co-sponsored by El Instituto and Rebecca Campbell-Montalvo, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Neag School of Education, was the featured guest
WSCC Toolkit
The WSCC Toolkit helps schools incorporate the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model into decision-making and the integration of health and learning. It includes tools like practice briefs and planning blueprints to guide work in the coordination of policies, processes, and practices relevant to school and child well-being.
UConn Magazine
The Fight for Physical Literacy – Fall 2018
UConn Today
Adding Context to ‘Breast is Best’ – October 3, 2018
Steering Committee Member Profile: Ruth Lucas
Background Ruth Lucas, RN, is an Assistant Professor in UConn’s School of Nursing. She began her career as a maternal child nurse and spent much of it working with mothers as they tried to breastfeed
UConn Today
More Kids are Eating Fast Food – and Not the Healthy Options – September 27, 2018
The Importance of School-Home Intersections: Language, Culture, and Health in the Florida Heartland
CSCH Live Talk by Rebecca Campbell-Montalvo, PhD – October 2017
New England Psychologist
School psychologists: In a class of their own – July 7, 2018
UConn Today
LGBTQ Teens Experiencing High Levels of Stress, says National Survey – May 15, 2018
New Haven Register
Pediatricians look for the best language to discuss weight with children – April 22, 2018
It Takes Two
CSCH Affiliate Ruth Lucas, PhD, discusses how breastfeeding takes effort on the part of both the baby and the mother 
New Haven Register
Hamden clinic set to revolutionize autism, special needs world – November 16, 2017
CSCH Live Talks
As part of an initiative to provide multi-media training for CSCH affiliates, the UConn Collaboratory on School and Child Health partnered with the Public Health House Learning Community to host a live filming of TED-like talks on October 30, 2017
The Boston Globe Magazine
Why America Needs a Population Czar – September 12, 2017
The CT Mirror
Health care providers endorse call for sales tax increase – June 20, 2017
UConn Today
State Leaders Attend Symposium on Childhood Trauma, Mental Health – May 26, 2017
Education, Community and Behavioral Health Leaders Attend Statewide Symposium on Childhood Trauma, Mental Health
On May 24, 2017, CSCH co-sponsored and hosted “Symposium on Trauma-Informed School Mental Health.” Approximately 100 school, mental health, and community leaders from across the state gathered at the University of Connecticut
Education World
Why Your School Should be Implementing trauma-Informed Practices – April 2017
Resilience Panel Discussion
Panel Discussion after CSCH screening of the documentary film Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope – November 2016
The Wellness School Assessment Tool, WellSAT
With support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Rudd Foundation, researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health developed WellSAT, which allows users to assess the quality of their school district’s written wellness policy.
Husky Sport
Funded by USDA SNAP-Ed, local foundations, AmeriCorps and private donations, Husky Sport is a sport based youth development program operating as a community-campus partnership between Hartford’s North End and UConn’s Neag School of Education. Husky Sport emphasizes nutritional education, physical activity, transferrable life skills, and academic enrichment with K-12 grade students both in school and […]
NEEDs2
Funded by the National Center for Education Research, Institute for Education Sciences, the National Exploration of Emotional/Behavioral Detection in School Screening (NEEDs2) project aims to understand if and how social, emotional, and behavioral screeners are being used in schools, and what factors influence use.
Low Cost Portable Device for Breastfeeding Diagnostics
Dr. Ruth Lucas and Dr. Bin Feng have created a device that allows for measurement of an infants’ sucking microstructure during breast and bottle feeding in the home setting. A Connecticut Bioscience Pipeline Grant will allow researchers to test the device in home settings for reliability, tolerance and acceptance during feeding. For more information, contact […]
Think about the Link Project
Funded through the UConn OVPR’s Research Excellence Program, the Neag Foundation, and individual donors, this project facilitates school efforts in integrating health and learning. Schools can enhance their support systems by incorporating the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model in decision-making across academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and physical domains of functioning. Project materials […]