This report presents insights from the inaugural year of Action Research’s evaluation of a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing access to Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), an evidence-based trauma treatment, for young people in New York City (NYC) foster care. The pilot program, a collaborative effort between the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Office of School Health (DOHMH-OSH), focuses on equipping mental health clinicians within ACS foster care agencies with EMDR training. The report describes key achievements, challenges, and lessons learned during the pilot’s first year, with a focus on EMDR training and implementation in foster care settings. Future reports will provide annual updates.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the Fund for Public Health in New York, Inc. provided funding for the pilot and the evaluation.