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 2023 there were 1,976 referrals: 43% from omaha public schools, 17% from millard public schools, 13% from papillion la vista public schools, 16% from bellevue public schools, and 11% 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 14,122 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 communication is shared across disciplines and the focus of the coordination is to improve the process of investigations. In 2023, Project Harmony implemented a new case management system and was better able to capture all advocacy sessions the organization provided, to include community outreach, anti-trafficking, and missing youth advocacy. In 2023, family advocates 15,834 advocacy sessions and contacts for youth and protective caregivers.

Mental health: mental health has been an expanding service for the agency. In 2023, the agency saw a 25% increase in the number of therapy sessions provided - 5,065 due to a paid internship program and additional staff. This treatment is specific to the needs of children who have experienced trauma because 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 conducts family therapy and group models.

Other program services include:coordination: Project Harmony provides coordination of the multidisciplinary teams responding to child abuse cases. In 2023, there were 13 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 2023, 991 children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems received case review and team coordination. 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 2023, the program provided 1,833 interviews to children.training and education: in 2023, Project Harmony training institute filled 20,924 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 45 states and 34 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 2023, the organization provided 1,493 medical exams.missing and anti-trafficking youth services:the missing and anti-trafficking youth services efforts are targeting children in the community who are reported as missing or run-away from their caregiver's home. As a part of this response, the agency coordinates with local law enforcement to identify children who have repeatedly run from home to intervene early to prevent escalating behaviors or victimization. For youth known to be high risk children who may be involved in minor sex trafficking, or children who have been exposed to commercially explicit sexual material online, a youth specialist provides more intensive support to the youth. Advocacy, medical support (for the child) and mental health services are provided to the child and their protective caregivers. 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 2023, 179 youth and caregivers received services through our missing youth services program and 107 (primarily teens, many of which are system involved) received services through our anti-trafficking youth services program. 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 concluded, and these community services absorbed by the bridge, a new non-profit organization with a family resource center concept.