Project Harmony-Haven For Abuse Response Members Serving Our

TO PROTECT AND SUPPORT CHILDREN, COLLABORATE WITH PROFESSIONALS AND ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY TO END CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

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 FIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IDENTIFY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN NEED, AND THEN GUIDE THEM THROUGH A NETWORK OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS.IN THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR THERE WERE 1,847 REFERRALS: 49% FROM OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS; 17% FROM MILLARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS; 15% FROM PAPILLION-LAVISTA PUBLIC SCHOOLS; 14% FROM BELLEVUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND 5% FROM NON-SCHOOL REFERRAL SOURCES. ALL OF THESE CHILDREN WERE ASSIGNED A MENTAL HEALTH COORDINATOR WHO HELPED THEM NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.

COMMUNITY SERVICES: PROJECT HARMONY SERVES AS THE CONTRACTED FISCAL SPONSOR FOR THE DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE. THE PURPOSE OF THE COLLABORATIVE IS TO INSTITUTIONALIZE A SEAMLESS, ACCESSIBLE PRIMARY PREVENTION SYSTEM IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, NE, WHICH BUILDS PROTECTIVE FACTORS AND OFFERS SERVICES AND SUPPORTS PROVEN TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND FAMILIES INTACT. IN 2021, THE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM INITIATIVES INCREASED MAINLY DUE TO POST-PANDEMIC NEEDS AND FURTHER OUTREACH TO TARGET POPULATIONS.

REFERRAL AND ADVOCACY: THE PURPOSE OF THE ADVOCACY AND REFERRAL PROGRAM IS TO ENSURE THE FAMILY HAS THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO DEAL WITH THE RECENT ABUSE OF THEIR CHILD. EACH FAMILY IS ASSIGNED A REFERRAL SPECIALIST WHO PROVIDES A PLAN FOR SERVICES AFTER THE INVESTIGATION. THE PLAN MAY INCLUDE COUNSELING REFERRALS, LEGAL REFERRALS OR EDUCATION. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES CASE COORDINATION FOR THE CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATION TEAM. THIS SERVICE ALLOWS FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNICATION IS SHARED ACROSS DISCIPLINES AND THE FOCUS OF THE COORDINATION IS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATIONS. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 5,270 SESSIONS TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS. IN 2019 THE AGENCY EXPANDED THE CAPACITY TO REACH HOMELESS AND MISSING YOUTH WHO ARE AT RISK OF SEX TRAFFICKING.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE:COORDINATION: PROJECT HARMONY PROVIDES COORDINATION OF THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS RESPONDING TO CHILD ABUSE CASES. IN 2021, THERE WERE 11 SUCH TEAMS MEETING REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS ARE PROPERLY COORDINATED ACROSS AGENCIES, THAT THE INFORMATION IS SHARED, AND THE SYSTEMS ARE IMPROVED. DURING 2021, 138 TEAM MEETINGS WERE HELD TO PROVIDE CASE REVIEW AND TEAM COORDINATION OF CHILDREN IN THE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS. THE PANDEMIC REQUIRED MOST OF THE TEAM MEETINGS TO BE CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM AND OTHER ONLINE PLATFORMS. THE CASE COORDINATORS WERE ESTABLISHED UNDER NEBRASKA STATUTE TO ENSURE COLLABORATION ACROSS DISCIPLINES DURING THE INVESTIGATION OF CHILD ABUSE.FORENSIC INTERVIEWS: WHEN REQUESTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, PROJECT HARMONY PROVIDES FORENSIC INTERVIEWS TO ASSIST IN THE ASSESSMENT OF A CHILD DISCLOSING ABUSE OR NEGLECT. THESE INTERVIEWS ARE VIDEO RECORDED AND COORDINATED WITH INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES. ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS INTEGRATED PROCESS IS TO MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS A CHILD IS SUBJECTED TO DURING AN INVESTIGATION. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM HAS DESIGNED THE PROCESS TO BE CHILD FOCUSED AND FAMILY CENTERED. IN 2021, THE PROGRAM PROVIDED 1,841 INTERVIEWS TO CHILDREN.TRAINING AND EDUCATION: IN 2021, PROJECT HARMONY TRAINING INSTITUTE FILLED 21,508 TRAINING SEATS, OFFERING OVER 25 UNIQUE COURSES IN A VARITY OF MODALITIES INCLUDING IN-PERSON SESSIONS, INSTRUCTOR-LED VIRTUAL COURSES AND COMPLETE ASYNCHRONOUS CONTENT. PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE TRAINED ON THE ASPECTS OF CHILD TRAUMA AND MALTREATMENT, REPORTING ABUSE, AND SKILL BUILDING WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN FAMILIES TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN.MEDICAL EVALUATIONS: THE ORGANIZATION'S MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF SPECIALIZE IN EVALUATING CHILDREN WHO ARE SUSPECTED TO HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED. THEIR ROLE IS TO PROVIDE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND NEGLECT EVALUATIONS/ASSESSMENTS AS WELL AS COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS FOR CHILDREN PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. IN ADDITION, THE CLINICAL STAFF PROVIDE EXPERT MEDICAL OPINIONS REGARDING CHILD MALTREATMENT. IN 2021, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED 1,191 MEDICAL EXAMS.PARENT UNIVERSITY: A COMPREHENSIVE, TWO-GENERATIONAL FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM; IT FOCUSES ON THE WHOLE FAMILY BY SIMULTANEOUSLY ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF BOTH CHILDREN AND THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES. WITH GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT FROM A PERSONAL COACH, PARENTS MAY ATTEND COURSES IN FOUR MAJORS: (1) PARENTING (2) LIFE SKILLS AND WELLNESS (3) SCHOOL SUCCESS AND (4) LEADERSHIP. WHILE PARENTS ATTEND COURSES, PARENT UNIVERSITY OFFERS YEAR-ROUND CHILD ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY ALSO PROVIDES LIBRARY SERVICES ONSITE FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS.