With our Grief-Enhanced Trauma-Informed Care Process Model (GTC) we area able to perform a comprehensive evaluation in order to provide clear instructions on where to seek help for individuals based on the symptom severity, functional impairment and wellbeing status of at-risk youth and their caregivers. This includes referrals to brief interventions, mental health professionals, support groups, and other resources that offer preventive and curative interventions. Trauma and grief interventions will be implemented at Olive View UCLA or online, with direct service and ongoing consultation in designated psychiatry clinics when necessary.

Our Screening Process Involves Assessing 6 Key Aspects:

1. PTSD Symptoms:

Using evidence-based tools such as the UCLA Brief PTSD scale and UCLA PTSD reaction Index , we evaluate the presence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder, reactivity to trauma reminders, as well as comorbid psychiatric disorders.

2. Bereavement Symptoms:

Using prolonged grief disorder checklist, we assess the presence and severity of bereavement on individuals, and its related functional impairment.

3. Functional Level Impairment:

The individuals’ functional levels, engagement, social interaction, and wellbeing in relation to self, family, friends/peers, job and school will be evaluated.

4. Self-Regulation Flexibility:

Using evidence-based tools, we evaluate the positive biospychosocial characteristics, self-regulation flexibility, resilience, self-compassion, social interaction, and wellbeing in youth with potential traumatic stress event(s).

5. Socioeconomic Repertoire:

Our approach introduces a comprehensive socio-economic-culturally competent method to assess social and financial support systems. By integrating this informed framework, we ensure our evaluation methods are responsive to the lived experiences of those we aim to serve. This holistic assessment allows us to identify gaps and address barriers that foster sustainable support networks, ultimately improving wellbeing for all.

6. Psychosocial Characteristics:

A person’s repertoire refers to all of the coping strategies they possess/know and can use to manage stress or stressful situation. This can be thought as your “bank of strategies” or “coping tool belt”. While having more strategies is generally beneficial, the variety of those strategies can be just as important as the quantity. Feedback refers to the ability to assess how well a coping strategy is working and decide whether to keep using it or make adjustments based on the situation. This self-evaluation is crucial for adapting to challenges, helping individuals refine their approach, improve coping skills, and build resilience after difficult experiences.

Treatment Stratification

Based on the presence and severity of traumatic stress and/or bereavement symptoms, levels of self-regulation flexibility, functional impairment levels, social/economic support and their repertoire/feedback ability, youth will be stratified into different tiers of treatment, and menu of options for brief, comprehensive or intensive outpatient services, psychiatry emergency, child and adolescent inpatient services or referral will be provided.

Our goal is to ensure that everyone receives the appropriate level of care based on their specific needs. For those without or with mild symptoms of PTSD and/or bereavement, our program offers disaster and traumatic stress preparedness and preventive psychoeducational trainings to prepare them for potential future trauma and stressors. These programs focus on building resilience, enhancing coping mechanisms, and providing mental health and well-being knowledge.

Once we have completed our evaluation, we stratify individuals into four categories based on their symptom severity: