Coventry Launches Community-Wide Childhood Trauma Initiative

COVENTRY, RI — The Coventry School community is taking on childhood trauma, head-on. On Wednesday, school officials, members of the community and more gathered for the launch of the Coventry-Trauma Informed Community, or C-CIT, which will focus on issues including reducing suicidal thoughts, drug use, bullying, academic problems, criminal acts and more.

The initiative is funded through a $440,000 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. The grant money will be used to train educators, first responders and other members of the community to help children in crisis.

"This grant from the Behavioral Health Fund at the RI Foundation will afford Coventry the opportunity over the next three years to train every adult in our community that has an impact on a child," Superintendent Craig Levis said. "The adults will not only understand the role that trauma plays in the development of each child, but empower them to make a significant difference in every child's life!"

Increasing evidence shows trauma suffered at a young age such as poverty, domestic abuse, homelessness, death of a family member, parental divorce or sexual abuse can have lasting ipacts on a child's life as they grow into adulthood.

"Bringing all agencies of Coventry together to address our young people's mental health, substance use and other needs before they are in crisis is the primary goal," Levis continued. "Everyone is needed; everyone is responsible."

To supplement the grant from the foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island has committed to give $5 million to the program over the next five years.

"Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is proud to be able to support such an impressive program and is grateful that the Coventry Public School District is taking action to help kids before they are in crisis," said Dr. Matt Collins, the company's chief medical officer. "When those on the front lines – educators, support staff, health workers, first responders, etc. – are trained to identify early mental health needs, kids have a better chance of getting the resources they need to help them avoid being in crisis."

To implement the initiative at a community level, the school department is partnering with several other agencies and departments, including Family Service of Rhode Island, Coventry police, the Coventry Fire Department and the Coventry Resource and Senior Center. The training process will happen over the next three years.

Kayla David of Family Service of Rhode Island said that "childhood adversity contributes to most of our major chronic health, mental health, economic health and social health issues."

"Coventry is committed to providing the supports necessary to its community to build an awareness of trauma and its impact," she continued. "Forming a culture of collective resilience will not only have last impact for the Coventry of today, but it will most certainly positively impact the Coventry of the future."