Project Harmony

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 over 145 schools in the metro omaha area to identify children and families in need, and then guide them through a network of mental health and social service providers.in 2022 there were 2,003 referrals: 46% from omaha public schools, 14% from millard public schools, 14% from papillion la vista public schools, 13% from bellevue public schools, and 8% from non-school referral sources. All of these children were assigned a mental health coordinator who helped them navigate mental health and community services. Of those referrals 12,064 counseling sessions were provided.

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 2022, the organization provided 6,829 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. This trafficking response grew in 2022 with enhanced partnerships with the omaha police department and homeland security-creating a multisystem response to child trafficking.

Mental health has been an expanding service for the agency. In 2022, the agency saw a 35% increase in the number of therapy sessions provided- 4,010. This treatment is specific to the needs of children who have experienced trauma as a result of abuse or neglect. The program uses a variety of evidenced-based treatment models to include trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, parent-child interactive treatment, and many others. The program delivers treatment in individual sessions with children and also conduct family therapy and group models

Other program services include:coordination: Project Harmony provides coordination of the multidisciplinary teams responding to child abuse cases. In 2022, 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 2022, 199 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 2022, the program provided 1,811 interviews to children.training and education: in 2022, Project Harmony training institute filled 22,632 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. The training impacted professionals from the metro omaha area and broadened to include 42 states and 14 countries.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 2022, the organization provided 1,332 medical exams.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 2023 the contract for these services will conclude, and these community services absorbed by the bridge, a new non-profit organization with a family resource center concept.anti-trafficking: the efforts are targeting children in the community who are reported as missing or run-away from their care givers home. As a part of this response, the agency coordinates with local law enforcement to identify high risk children who may be involved in minor sex trafficking, or children who have been exposed to commercially explicit sexual material online. The program takes a multidisciplinary approach involving law enforcement, the judicial system, mental health care, medical care and advocacy to ensure children are safe and protected. Homeland security and the us attorney's office is a local partner as well to ensure victims who may have been abused across state lines or in an online format are protected. In 2022, 141 children were served in this collaborate effort. 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. In october 2022 the contract for these services concluded, and services continued with the learning community of north omaha.