Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut
Independent nonprofit intermediary improving children's behavioral health in Connecticut through systems integration, evidence-based treatment dissemination, school mental health work and data analysis.
The Child Health and Development Institute of Connecticut (CHDI) is an independent nonprofit intermediary founded in 1997. Headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut, it connects people, information, data and systems to improve the behavioural health and well-being of children, youth and families, working across Connecticut and in the region beyond. Its role is a bridging one: it links government agencies, schools, healthcare providers, community organisations and research partners rather than delivering services directly.
CHDI's work runs along four lines. It builds and integrates children's behavioural health systems; it develops and disseminates evidence-based and best-practice treatments, with training and technical assistance for child-serving professionals; it supports comprehensive school mental health, with more than 380 schools currently working with CHDI; and it applies data analysis and quality improvement to identify system challenges and advance research-based solutions. Tens of thousands of children receive services through CHDI initiatives.
The organisation operates across several settings, including healthcare, education, the public sector, nonprofit social services and research. It is advocacy-oriented, pressing for policies that strengthen behavioural health services. Staff work in multidisciplinary, collaborative teams alongside state agencies, school districts, providers and academic partners.