GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Child and Family Services Agency
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 31, 2012

CONTACT: Mindy Good (CFSA), 202-442-6180 (desk), 202-409-2812 (mobile), mindy.good@dc.gov

Federal Grant Will Support Cutting-Edge Treatment for Child Victims of Abuse and Neglect

WASHINGTON, D.C.—When tragedy struck the family, Mom blamed her oldest daughter Denay*, 14,
heaping on emotional abuse and putting Denay out of the house. Denay entered foster care so
overwhelmed with sadness and anger that she could not pay attention in school, settle into a foster
home, or get through a day without outbursts. Denay’s attempts to reach out in hopes Mom would
relent only resulted in more rejection. Denay refused counseling, ran away several times, and began
cutting herself. Social workers, attorneys, and other professionals saw Denay as a bright teen with
potential and wanted to help her heal—but they struggled with how to protect her from her own risky
behavior without resorting to medication and locked facilities.

Children and youth with issues such as Denay’s will soon have a surer pathway back to health. The D.C.
Child and Family Services Agency has won $3.2 million ($640,000 per year for five years) from the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families to make trauma-informed
treatment the foundation of serving children and youth in the District child welfare system.
This is the largest competitive federal grant award CFSA has received to date.

Trauma-informed treatment has been shown to dramatically speed and improve healing of child victims
of abuse and neglect without relying on medications, hospitalizations, or prolonged counseling. Using
the latest scientific findings about the effects of trauma on brain development and functioning, trauma-informed
treatment focuses not just on the child or youth but also on his or her relationships and
surroundings. It looks for triggers in each child’s environment and seeks to minimize them while also
teaching the child new ways to feel safe and in control.

“Kids struggling to overcome terrible events and circumstances need the very best support,” said CFSA
Director Brenda Donald. “The insight and skills of this approach will transform our ability to help them
move beyond emotional and behavioral difficulties and thrive. We want to improve our success rate in
renewing children’s opportunities for the healthy, happy, productive lives they deserve.”

CFSA will partner with researcher scientists and private-sector practitioners to become the first public
agency to infuse trauma-informed treatment throughout a child welfare system. The grant will support
broad-based training of social workers, foster parents, attorneys, counselors, and other professionals
who work with the District’s abused and neglected children.

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The DC Child and Family Services Agency is the first responder to child abuse and neglect in the District of Columbia, taking and
investigating reports 24/7 at 202-671-SAFE. CFSA protects child victims and those at risk and assists their families.
*Name changed to protect confidentiality