Hartford-Based Hospital Secures $1.5M To Expand Trauma Care

HARTFORD, CT — Saint Francis Hospital, 114 Woodland St., Hartford, announced Tuesday it has secured a $1.5 million federal earmark to expand trauma recovery and victim support services across the greater Hartford region, hospital officials said.

The funding, unveiled during a press conference with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and local leaders, will support staffing increases and broaden access to trauma-informed mental health care for individuals and families affected by violence.

Hospital officials said the investment will allow two existing programs — the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center and the Hospital-based Violence Intervention Program — to merge into a single, coordinated system of care aimed at improving long-term recovery outcomes.

“This investment allows us to respond to the growing and urgent need for trauma-informed care in our community,” said Carolyn Alessi, regional director of Community Health and Well Being for Trinity Health Of New England. “By expanding staffing and integrating innovative therapeutic approaches, we can meet people where they are and provide the consistent, culturally responsive support survivors need to heal.”

Blumenthal said the funding addresses persistent gaps in services for victims of violence statewide.

“Too many people across Connecticut live with the lasting impacts of violence,” Blumenthal said. “This $1.5 million in federal funding will help survivors access the comprehensive, trauma-informed care they need to heal and rebuild their lives.”

The expanded program will incorporate somatic therapy alongside established clinical treatments such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Brainspotting. Hospital officials said the combined approach is designed to address both the psychological and physical effects of trauma, including post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression.

Leaders said the initiative builds on national trauma recovery models that have shown improved patient engagement and measurable gains in mental health outcomes.

From 2021 to 2023, the Greater Hartford Family Advocacy Center served more than 4,100 individuals, including 1,156 who received individual trauma therapy, highlighting growing demand for services. Officials said staffing shortages and funding constraints have limited the program’s ability to expand.

“This funding allows us to strengthen a system of care that addresses both acute and long-term trauma, particularly in communities that have been historically underserved,” said Valerie Powell-Stafford, president of Saint Francis Hospital and Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Hospital.

Community partners said the investment will deepen collaboration and expand access to care.

“In 2004, we partnered with Saint Francis Hospital to establish Connecticut’s first Hospital Violence Intervention Program,” said Andrew Woods, CEO of Hartford Communities that Care, Inc.. “This investment will expand complementary Trauma Recovery Center services, deepening our shared ability to reach survivors when it matters most.”

Hospital officials said the coordinated model is intended to improve access to timely care, reduce barriers to treatment, and strengthen long-term recovery for individuals and families affected by violence.