PROJECT HARMONY

CONNECTIONS: WE BELIEVE THAT CHILDREN WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS, WHICH ARE OFTEN INDICATIVE OF TOXIC STRESS, TRAUMA, AND EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, CAN BE IDENTIFIED BEFORE AN INCIDENT OF CHILD MALTREATMENT OCCURS, AND IF TIMELY, APPROPRIATE, AND EFFECTIVE SERVICES CAN BE OFFERED, A CHILD CAN GET BACK ON TRACK DEVELOPMENTALLY, FUNCTION BETTER AT HOME AND IN THE CLASSROOM, AND BE SAFER AT HOME AND IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATORS WORK WITH OVER 145 SCHOOLS IN THE METRO OMAHA AREA TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED, AND THEN GUIDE THEM THROUGH A NETWORK OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. IN 2024 THERE WERE 2,143 REFERRALS: 56% FROM OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 13% FROM MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 10% FROM PAPILLION LA VISTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 17% FROM BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND 7% FROM NON-SCHOOL REFERRAL SOURCES. ALL OF THESE CHILDREN WERE ASSIGNED A MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR WHO HELPED THEM NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. OF THOSE REFERRALS 9,093 COUNSELING SESSIONS WERE PROVIDED.

MENTAL HEALTH: MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN AN EXPANDING SERVICE FOR THE AGENCY. THIS TREATMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA BECAUSE OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THE PROGRAM USES A VARIETY OF EVIDENCED-BASED TREATMENT MODELS TO INCLUDE TRAUMA FOCUSED COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY, PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIVE TREATMENT, AND MANY OTHERS. THE PROGRAM DELIVERS TREATMENT IN INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS WITH CHILDREN AND CONDUCTS FAMILY THERAPY AND GROUP MODELS. IN 2024 THE PROGRAM PROVIDED COUNSELING SERVICES TO 310 CHILDREN.