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The Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS)

National Children's Alliance (NCA) is pleased to introduce its member Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) to the Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS). The Care Process Model is a brief screening and response protocol guiding the identification of and response to trauma, suicidality, and traumatic stress in children seen at CACs and in community care settings. 

The Care Process Model comes to us from our partners at PIPS (Pediatric Integrated Post-Trauma Services) at the University of Utah. PIPS is a Category II Center of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). 

What is the Care Process Model used for? 

CACs serve kids, offering trauma services and forensic interviews. CPM-PTS links the two. The Care Process Model is a brief screening and response protocol guiding the identification of and response to child trauma, suicidality, and traumatic stress. The Care Process Model has identified patterns of trauma exposure, suicidality, and traumatic stress in children 5-18 at the time of their forensic interview. Instead of waiting for a separate Evidence-Based Assessment administered in a therapy session--sometimes after sitting on long waitlists--kids with serious needs can be identified for service on their first visit to the CAC.

The Care Process Model Roadmap

You don't have to make it up as you go along when implementing the Care Process Model at your CAC. There's a roadmap with clear steps to help you connect your kids to care at their first point of contact: the forensic interview. You'll learn how to address trauma safety concerns, assess suicide risk, provide a prevention response, connect kids and families with services, and even teach a coping skill to help target symptoms. 

Training

Training and implementation support for your Multidisciplinary team (MDT) is a critical step to successful and seamless integration of the CPM-PTS within the day-to-day workflow of the CAC as well as ensuring that all members of the MDT understand and support the goals of trauma and suicide screening and response. The NCA Institute for Better Mental Health Outcomes and PIPS can help support trainings at the region, state or individual CAC level.

The CPM-PTS can be done using paper, but electronic versions, with built in decision support exist. 

These tools will be readily accessible and integrated within NCAtrak in the fall of 2024. Non-integrated electronic administration options are also going to be available in the future.

Check out our Training Calendar for upcoming sessions about the CPM-PTS.

The CPM-PTS explainer videos for CACs and caregivers

Check out our new collection of short explainer videos for CACs and caregivers about how the CPM-PTS works.

The CPM-PTS fact sheets for CACs and caregivers

Get the facts on the Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress for CACs and caregivers. Print and share these with clients and clinical staff about how (and why) the CPM-PTS works to help kids get back to being kids. 

For CACs

For Caregivers

CPM-PTS resources in Spanish

Both our videos and fact sheets for Children's Advocacy Centers and caregivers are now available in Spanish to reach more families than ever before. 

Fact Sheet for CACs

Fact Sheet for Caregivers

Additional Care Process Model resources

Fact sheets

Much more on the Care Process Model is coming soon from NCA and PIPS at the University of Utah. Here are a few additional resources you can check out in the meantime, as we prepare to roll out education on the model for our members. 

The Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress Website                                                                                               

Implementation of a Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress in Child Advocacy Centers

Traumatic stress symptoms and PTSD risk in children served by Children’s Advocacy Centers

Screening for and Responding to Suicidality Among Youth Presenting to a Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC)