UConn Health Receives $3 Million Grant to Enhance Support for Foster and Adoptive Families

Clinical psychologist Damion Grasso, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry, emphasized the challenges children in foster and adoptive care face, highlighting that nearly all have experienced maltreatment or family separation, which can lead to ongoing emotional and behavioral difficulties.

The grant will establish the UConn Health Foster-Adoptive Clinical and Enrichment Services (FACES) Center, co-directed by Grasso and fellow psychologists Carolyn Greene, Rocio Chang, David FitzGerald, and Julian Ford. Dr. David Steffens, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health, noted that the funding acknowledges the expertise within their team to assess and treat childhood trauma, expanding the trauma-informed care available to these families statewide.

According to Grasso, nearly 2,900 children were in foster care and over 5,000 families were raising children adopted from the child welfare system in Connecticut as of fiscal 2025. More than 8,000 children live in foster, kinship, adoptive, or pre- and post-adoptive families in the state, reflecting a significant need for targeted mental health services.

The children in these situations are more susceptible to mental health issues, often facing placement instability. Grasso indicated that many children experience multiple placements in their first year in care, which can hinder their emotional development and long-term well-being.

FACES will implement evidence-based screening, assessment, and treatment focused on trauma and caregiver support, aiming to serve over 4,100 children and their caregivers, train 900 foster and adoptive parents, and strengthen the skills of over 600 behavioral health and community providers in Connecticut. Grasso noted that barriers like waitlists and workforce shortages contribute to difficulties in accessing necessary care for both children and caregivers.

The program aims to enhance the service landscape for families involved in the child welfare system and to ultimately foster healing and stability within these networks. Grasso highlighted the importance of supportive adult relationships in safeguarding children, expressing his hopes that FACES will foster stronger attachments and support systems.

Grasso's personal connection to the child welfare system as both a professional and a foster and adoptive parent informs his perspective on the impact of trauma on children's lives. He remarked that while the project will track measurable outcomes over the next five years, its true success will be demonstrated through increased engagement of families in need with the provided services.