Treatment for trauma is not one size fits all. La Rabida’s Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC) has one mission, providing expert-level mental health services to any child who has experienced trauma and loss in Chicago. “We noticed that the rates of trauma were extremely high on the South Side and there was a lack of quality services to address these experiences.
“We started our program to assure that high-quality trauma therapy services could happen for children and families,” shared Theresa Valach, Clinical Director of the CCTC.
Making sure these services are easily accessible to families is why the CCTC is expanding into a new location at 55th and Lake Park Ave.
The diverse team at the CCTC are all trained to treat children who have experienced various types of trauma. “A lot of the children we see have experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, violence, and even medical trauma,” explained Theresa.
“We are taking a closer look at racial trauma and how that has an impact on children and their families.”
The new location will improve access to care, allow the team to reach more children, and ensure better collaboration with other La Rabida teams. The new office is close to La Rabida’s main campus and next to a Metra stop and two bus lines, providing better access to families who do not have a car.
The CCTC will now be in the same building as La Rabida’s Child and Family Connections (CFC). Part of the Illinois Early Intervention Program, the CFC provides support for families to help children under the age of three meet developmental milestones. With both of these programs under the same roof, the teams will now be able to seamlessly work together.
The CCTC got a financial boost earlier this year from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). The federal grant, part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will help reduce community violence and expand Trauma Informed Care Programs to local residents. La Rabida was awarded $400,000 to increase treatment options to children and families in our community who have experienced trauma, and provide community focused Trauma Informed Care training.
This story was featured in the September 2021 issue of Currents. Read the full issue here.
