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Publications

CCTASSI's Publications

Our team contributes to a growing body of research focused on building and sustaining trauma-informed systems that support youth, families, and the providers who serve them. We examine strategies for effective training, technical assistance, and implementation support across service settings. We also engage in collaborative efforts to develop, adapt, and share resources that promote cross-systems coordination and responsive care. 

Many of the publications below were developed in collaboration with partners through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) or the Mental Health Services and Policy Program (MHSPP) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, whose contributions have been essential to this work. 

Scroll below to explore our peer-reviewed articles, books, and other scholarly works, organized by topic areas.

Key Publications with CCTASSI Contributors (By Topic):

Complex Trauma 

  • Greeson, J., Briggs-King, E., Kisiel., C., Layne, C.M., Ake, G. T.,  Ko, S., Gerrity, E., Steinberg, A., Pynoos, R., Howard., M.L., Pynoos, R.S., & Fairbank, J. (2011).  Complex trauma and mental health in foster care youth: Findings from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Child Welfare, 90(6), 91-108. 
  • Kisiel, C., Fehrenbach, T., Liang, L., Stolbach, B., McClelland, G., Griffin, G., Maj, N., Briggs, E.,Vivrette, R., Layne, C., & Spinazzola, J. (2014).  Examining child sexual abuse in relation to complex patterns of trauma exposure within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037812 
  • Kisiel, C.L., Fehrenbach, T., Small, L. & Lyons, J. (2009). Assessment of Complex Trauma Exposure, Responses and Service Needs Among Children and Adolescents in Child Welfare. Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma, 2, 143-160. https://doi.org/10.1080/19361520903120467  
  • Kisiel, C., Fehrenbach, T., Torgersen, E., Stolbach, B., McClelland, G., Griffin, G., & Burkman (2014). Constellations of interpersonal trauma and symptoms in child welfare: Implications for a developmental trauma framework. Journal of Family Violence, 29, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-013-9559-0 
  • Kisiel, C., Summersett-Ringgold, F., Weil, L., & McClelland, G. (2016). Understanding strengths in relation to complex trauma and mental health symptoms within child welfare. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26, 37–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0569-4  
  • Pynoos, R.S., Steinberg, A., Layne, C.M., Liang, Vivrette, R.L., Briggs, E.C., Kisiel, C., Habib, M., Belin, T. & Fairbank, J.A. (2014). Modeling constellations of trauma exposure in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network core data set.  Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy.  Online Publication: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0037767. 
  • Spinazzola, J., Habib, M., Knoverek, A., Arvidson, J., Nisenbaum, J., Wentworth, R. Hogdon, H., Pond, A., & Kisiel, C. (2013).  The Heart of the Matter:  Complex Trauma in Child Welfare.  CW360°, Special Issue, Child Traumatic Stress: Impact on the Child Welfare System, Winter 2013, Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, University of Minnesota School of Social Work, 8-9. 
  • Spinazzola, J., Hodgdon, H., Liang, L., Ford, J., Layne, C., Pynoos, R., Stolbach, B., Layne, C., & Kisiel, C. (2014).  Unseen wounds: The contribution of psychological maltreatment to child and adolescent mental health and risk outcomes in a national sample.  Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Online Publication: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037766. 

Child Trauma Assessment 

  • Conradi, L., Kisiel, C. L., & Pinkerton, L. (2020). Linking trauma-informed screening and assessment practices across child-serving systems.  In R. Geffner, V. Vieth, V. Vaughan-Eden, A. Rosenbaum, L.K. Hamberger, J. White, (Eds.), Handbook of Interpersonal Violence across the Lifespan. New York, NY: Springer. 
  • Conradi, L., Wherry, J., & Kisiel, C. (2011). Linking child welfare and mental health using trauma-informed screening and assessment practices. Child Welfare, 90(6), 129-147. 
  • Kisiel, C.L., Blaustein, M., Fogler, J., Ellis, H., & Saxe, G. (2009). Treating children with traumatic experiences: Understanding and assessing needs and strengths. Emotional and Behavioral Disorders in Youth, Winter 2009, 13-19. 
  • Kisiel, C., Conradi, L., Fehrenbach, T., Torgersen, E., & Briggs, E (2014). Assessing the effects of trauma in children and adolescents in practice settings. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 23, 223–242. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.chc.2013.12.007 
  • Kisiel, C., Fehrenbach, T., Conradi, L., & Weil, L. (2021). Trauma-informed assessment with children and adolescents: Strategies to support clinicians. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000233-000 
  • Kisiel, C.L., Patterson, N., Torgersen, E., den Dunnen, W., Villa, C. & Fehrenbach, T. (2018) Assessment of the complex effects of trauma across child serving settings: Measurement properties of the CANS-Trauma comprehensive. Children and Youth Services Review, 86, 64-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.12.032 
  • Kisiel, C.L., Torgersen, E., Weil, L.E.G. & Fehrenbach, T. (2018). Use of a Structured Approach to Assessment within Child Welfare: Applications of the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths – Trauma Comprehensive (CANS-Trauma). In V. Strand, G. & Sprang, G. (Eds.). Developing Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Agencies and Systems (pp. 105-126). Springer. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64602-2_7  

Transition Age Youth 

  • Kisiel, C., Guarnaccia, U., Pinkerton, L., Garibaldi, P., Agosti, J. (2024). Empowering transition age youth through trauma-informed, strengths-based, youth-centered, and anti-racist practices: Implementation of a virtual breakthrough series collaborative. Children and Youth Services Review, 163, 1-12. 
  • Spinelli, T. R., Bruckner, E., Jordan, N., & Kisiel, C. L. (2023). Trauma is only part of the story: Strengths moderate the relationship between trauma and needs for older youth in foster care. Journal of Adolescence, 95(7), 1435–1448. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12217 
  • Spinelli, T. R., Bruckner, E., & Kisiel, C. L. (2021). Understanding trauma experiences and needs through a comprehensive assessment of transition age youth in child welfare. Child Abuse & Neglect, 122, 105367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105367 

Trauma-informed Systems 

  • Garibaldi, P., Kisiel, C., Castillo, A., Mitchell-Adams, H., Jordan, N. (2024). Direct care staff vacancies and adverse youth events in Illinois child welfare residential treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 41, 1-21. 
  • Griffin, E., McClelland, G., Holzberg, M., Stolbach, B.& Maj, N., & Kisiel, C. (2011). Addressing the impact of trauma before diagnosing mental illness in child welfare. Child Welfare, 90 (6), 69-89.   
  • Kisiel, C., Torgersen, E., & McClelland, G. (2020). Understanding Dissociation in relation to Child Trauma, Mental Health Needs and Intensity of Services in Child Welfare: A Possible Missing Link. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody, and Child Development, 17(3), 189-218. http://doi.org/10.1080/26904586.2020.1816867. 
  • Summersett-Ringgold, F., Jordan, N., Griffin, E., Kisiel, C., Goldenthal, H., & Martinovich, Z. (2019). An examination of youth protective factors and caregiver parenting skills at entry into the child welfare system and their association with justice system involvement. Children and Youth Services Review, 99, 23-35.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.001  
  • Summersett-Ringgold, F., Jordan, N., Kisiel, C., Sax, R., & McClelland, G. (2017). Child strengths and placement stability among racial/ethnic minority youth in the child welfare system. Child Abuse & Neglect, 76, 561-572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.09.014   
  • Summersett Williams, F, Martinovich, Z., Kisiel, C., Griffin, G, Goldenthal, H, Jordan, N. (2019). Can the development of protective factors help disrupt the foster care-to-prison pipeline? An examination of the association between justice system involvement and the development of youth protective factors. Journal of Public Child Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2019.1696912 
  • Weil, L.E.G.., Kisiel, C., Jordan, N. (2017). Chronic illness, placement stability, and hospitalizations within child welfare: The role of initial living arrangement.  Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27(3), 1002-1012. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-017-0918-y  

 

Who We Are

  • The Center for Child Trauma, Assessment, Services and Systems Integration 
  • Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Contact Us

  • Address:
    710 N. Lake Shore Dr., Abbott Hall, 12th Floor Chicago, IL 60611
  • Phone: 312-503-9990
  • Email: CCTASSI

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CCTASSI is funded by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) (SM #061254).