The Healing Tree Program

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

The Orlando Health, Inc. will use the Congressionally Selected Award to support Healing Tree's treatment services. Healing Tree provides specialized mental health treatment for child victims of sexual abuse ages 3 to 18 and their non-offending family members, including affected siblings. The program serves the central Florida area and has two clinic sites in Orange and Osceola Counties. The program uses the evidence-based intervention, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), which includes individual and group therapy provided in a family-systems model. To measure the effectiveness of this program, the Healing Tree uses clinical measurement tools, including the Functional Assessment Rating Scale (FARS) for adults and the Children's Functional Assessment Rating Scale (CFARS) for children. Therapists administer these tools at each client's intake appointment to obtain baseline scores for anxiety, depression and other factors. These tools are administered every three months during treatment and when the client is discharged. Data from these instruments is tracked in the TheraScribe database to track each client's progress in therapy. The program's main goals are to improve global functioning skills (cognitive, emotional, and social) and to reduce anxiety and depression for child survivors of sexual trauma and caretakers of child victims of sexual trauma.

NCA/NCF