The Department of Mental Health (DMH) Child Welfare Division seeks to provide the following training, “Identifying and Treating Self-Harm Behaviors in Children and Youth” for staff within the Department of Mental Health (DMH) and contracted providers who render specialty mental health services to children and youth in the foster care system. This training equips participants to accurately identify, assess, and treat Non- Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). It explores NSSI functions as a coping strategy for distressing affective states (anger, depression, mixed emotions), how it differs from suicidal behavior, and how it co-occurs with common internalizing and externalizing conditions. Grounded in the Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM), the curriculum emphasizes collaborative, family-centered care across all phases of service including: • Prevention, engagement, and teaming • Assessment and functional analysis with suicide-risk screening • Planning and implementation (evidence-supported psychotherapy, caregiver coaching, and indications for psychopharmacology referral) • Measurement-based monitoring/adaptation • Transition/aftercare Participants will practice developmentally appropriate strategies that strengthen safety planning, reduce crisis utilization, and improve engagement within the public mental health system (not private practice).
