Intermountain Health’s Primary Children’s Hospital has become the first hospital in the Western United States to join the National Trauma and Grief (TAG) Network. This initiative, supported by the New York Life Foundation, aims to standardize evidence-based care for children experiencing traumatic loss, addressing a critical gap in pediatric mental health services.
Why the TAG Network Membership Matters
In Utah, approximately one in 15 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before reaching age 18. According to Intermountain Health, grief is one of the most common and distressing forms of trauma for youth. Without specialized support, these children face increased risks for academic struggles, social difficulties, substance use, depression, and suicidality.
The TAG Network, led by the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Dallas, Texas, creates a national standard for trauma and grief intervention. By joining this network, Intermountain Children’s Health gains access to specialized training, consultation, and technical assistance in evidence-based assessment. This allows clinicians to implement the Multidimensional Grief Therapy (MGT) model, the only intervention in the country specifically designed for grieving children.
Expanding Pediatric Mental Health Access
The integration of TAG Network standards builds upon decades of work at the Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children’s Hospital. This facility has already trained over 1,000 therapists across the Intermountain West in trauma-informed care.
Dr. Angelo P. Giardino, president of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine and medical director of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital, stated that this membership reaffirms the health system’s long-term commitment to supporting families through recovery. The initiative expands services across multiple campuses, including the Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Campus in Taylorsville and the Primary Children’s Miller Campus in Lehi.
How Families Can Access Support
Intermountain Health provides several avenues for families seeking help for children impacted by trauma or loss. These services include:
* Safe and Healthy Families: For inquiries regarding trauma-focused treatment, contact the center at 801-662-3606 during standard business hours.
* Assessment, Referrals, and Consultations (ARCS): For general behavioral health services, call 385-478-2400.
* Comprehensive Grief Support: Beyond clinical therapy, the hospital offers immediate support following a loss, ongoing coordination, summer camps, and annual memorial tributes.
According to Dustin Lipson, president of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and Intermountain Children’s Health Services, offering these evidence-based treatments fills a critical void in the community, ensuring that families do not have to navigate the grieving process in isolation. The participation of Intermountain in the TAG Network ensures that the highest level of care is available to children throughout Utah and the broader Intermountain West region.