Minnesota Child Response Center (MnCRC)

MnCRC History & Overview
The Minnesota Child Response Center (MnCRC) was created when the community partnership known as the Minnesota Child Response Initiative, then based at Tubman Family Alliance, received a four year federal grant effective 10/1/05 from the US Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to join the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) as a Community Treatment and Services Center. MnCRC is a "virtual" center, housed at the University of Minnesota, whose work is done at partner agency sites (clinics, shelters, housing agencies, schools, and homes) throughout the Metro area.

MnCRC Goals
By learning from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and working among partner agencies-culturally specific and mainstream social service, mental health and housing providers, schools, police and the University of Minnesota-the MnCRC's Goals are to:

1. Increase access to trauma-informed services through community needs assessment, resource mapping, and immediate and accurate identification and screening by front line providers (such as shelter advocates, supportive housing case managers, police and school personnel). Crisis intervention for traumatized children is provided by the Child Development Policing Program (CDPP) throughout the city of Minneapolis.

2. Raise the standard of care for traumatized children by adapting and disseminating best practice treatment approaches:

          a. Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is 

               individual therapy for children with anxiety, posttraumatic stress

              disorder, or depression symptoms. Participating sites include  

              community mental health agencies and selected supportive

              housing agencies across the metro area.

          b. Parenting Through Change (PTC) is an evidence-based 

              parenting group curriculum designed for parents in transition.

              Participating sites include selected shelters, community

              agencies and supportive housing programs.

         c. Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)

              is a group intervention for war-exposed refugee students in

             Minneapolis public schools.

3. Establish broad community and provider consensus on the mental health needs of traumatized children and the best practices to address these needs.

4. Create sustainable change at the community, local, and state levels through implementation of best practices for trauma-informed services.

5. Actively participate in National Child Traumatic Stress Network activities to expand the reach throughout Minnesota and the upper Midwest. SAMHSA stipulates that a minimum of 25% of our funding must support contributions toward and participation in official NCTSN activities, including product development.

childresponse.org

Minneapolis City Attorney's Office
Minneapolis Police Department
Minneapolis Public Schools
Tubman Family Alliance
University of Minnesota
Washburn Child Guidance Center
Women of Nations (Eagle's Nest Shelter)