This article identifies gaps in the knowledge of how best to intervene with children following disasters.
Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS)
In 1999 RAND researchers joined colleagues at the Los Angeles Unified School District and the University of California Los Angeles to confront one of the saddest realities in the U.S.—the large number of children who go to school weighed down by experiencing or witnessing some form of violence, trauma, or maltreatment. Out of concern and collaboration grew the Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS).
CBITS provides mental health screening and a brief standardized series of therapy sessions in schools aimed at reducing a child's symptoms related to existing traumatic experiences and enhancing skills to handle future stresses. CBITS is founded on cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is recognized by the U.S. Task Force on Community Preventive Services as the only approach with strong evidence of effectiveness.Learn about the development, implementation, and evaluation of CBITS
Why the need for a school-based trauma program?
From community and family violence to natural disasters, around one in four youngsters are thought to be affected by trauma. A recent national survey of children and youth ages two to 17 provides a more-detailed picture1.
- More than half of the children had been physically assaulted in the study year;
- More than one in eight had experienced some form of child maltreatment;
- One in 12 had experienced sexual victimization;
- More than one in three had witnessed violence or experienced some other form of indirect victimization.
Exposure to trauma, whether caused by humans or nature, often manifests in children and adolescents as learning difficulties and/or behavioral problems. For many students—especially those in poor and minority neighborhoods—school is one of the few sources for mental health care. CBITS targets the general school population, with the flexibility to make the program relevant to racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse groups.
CBITS Training Website
Register to receive online training from the CBITS program, participate in discussion forums, access an Ask-the-Expert forum, and more.Train with CBITS
What is the current status of CBITS?
CBITS is included in the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs (NREPP) and received high scores from NREPP on quality of research and readiness for dissemination.
CBITS is designed to be delivered by school mental health clinicians such as social workers, psychologists, and other clinicians. CBITS is being implemented in many school districts nationally, with many training and support activities supported by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
In addition, a CBITS adaptation—called Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET)—allows teachers and school counselors with no mental health training to deliver a modified program.View results from an SSET pilot test
Bounce Back 2015
Bounce Back, a program for elementary school students exposed to traumatic events, reduces symptoms of post traumatic stress, depression, and anxiety.