3. Bringing community stakeholder’s to the table to address the needs of children and youth in crisis as a component of children’s diversion... Stakeholder conversations serve as a catalyst for agency and system change to address crisis services improvement for children including policy issues such as information sharing, universal forms, funding/reimbursement rates… Conversation ONE – Long Term Goal : “Diversion Plus” - 24/7 Crisis Care for Children - exploring partnerships for funding, facility and clinical and non clinical services i.e. one stop shop Medical Directors’ Roundtable for Children
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7. Steps to Doing Things Differently : Creating a System that is Agile, Adaptable, Allied, Child-Centered and Family-Focused Steps to Doing Things Differently : Creating a System that is Agile, Adaptable, Allied, Child-Centered and Family-Focused 1. Organize a committee of parents willing to act as moderators of the group. 2. Launch yahoo site. 3. Publicize availability among formal and informal parents organizations. D. Create a yahoo group for parents of children with mental health issues. 1. Ask all community centers with case management components to assign one Case Manager to act as a Coordinator of Care for families with a child with mental health problems. 2. Train the assigned staff and provide a Certification of Ability to completers. 3. Host monthly meetings of Coordinators of Care to share resource information. C. Identify and train voluntary Coordinators of Care or Family Navigators from among the case management staff at area community centers. 1. 1. Provide content for churches to distribute encouraging parents to access Network of Care (or 211) if they suspect their child is in need of assessment or intervention. B. Publicize the availability of Network of Care throughout the community. 1. Create posters that encourage parents to call 211 if they suspect their child has an emerging mental health issue. 2. Ask public schools to hang the posters throughout their elementary, middle and high schools in places where parents are likely to see them. 3. Inform United Way and ask that they coordinate specialized training for 211 operators to ensure that families are given accurate, actionable information. A. Publicize the availability of the 211 system in schools. CONNECTING FAMILIES to INFORMATION and SUPPORT Status/Responsibility Required Action SHORT TERM: Achievable in 1 Year
8. 1. 2. 3. A. Shift the emphasis in funding, policy and program development from intervention to prevention. PREVENTION and EARLY INTERVENTION 1. 2. 3. D. Develop a communitywide campaign to de-stigmatize mental illness. 1. 2. 3. C. Create a centralized, voluntary data system and receptacle of information about children with mental health issues and their treatment histories that can be accessed by authorized entities with a need to know. 1. 2. 3. B. Obtain legislative support for the regulatory changes that are required for cross-system information sharing and collaborative service delivery. 1. 2. 3. A. Establish a system of care, a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to the care and treatment of children with mental health issues. LAYING the GROUNDWORK for SYSTEM CHANGE Status/Responsibility Required Action LONG TERM: Will Take More Than 1 Year 1. 2. 3. C. Establish dedicated liaisons between public partners, i.e., CPS representatives in schools and assigned to Juvenile Probation and CHCS. 1. 2. 3. B. Ask agencies with MOUs to meet quarterly to evaluate the system of care, share resources, troubleshoot and develop extensions and enhancements to existing partnerships. 1. 2. 3. A. Establish MOUs among all public and private organizations willing to play a role in an integrated system of care. ALLIANCES and COLLABORATIONS
9. 1. 2. 3. B. Provide respite care opportunities for parents of children with mental health issues. 1. 2. 3. A. Train and prepare parents to be their child’s Case Manager and an effective advocate. STRENGTHENING FAMILIES 1. 2. 3. E. Create mentoring opportunities between teachers experienced in working with children or youth with mental health issues and those who are inexperienced. 1. 2. 3. D. Increase the availability of CIS or other in-school social work or case management resources. 1. 2. 3. C. Train school police officers in crisis intervention training in an effort to reduce inappropriate or unnecessary referrals to the juvenile justice system. 1. 2. 3. B. Engage children and youth with mental health issues in extra curricular activities. 1. 2. 3. A. Create peer support programs. SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORTS 1. 2. 3. C. Create a simple, short screening tool for parents to complete while waiting for a visit with the pediatrician and subsequently discuss. 1. 2. 3. B. Create a comprehensive, uniform assessment process for children at risk using existing points of access, i.e., Head Start, child care centers, etc. 1. 2. 3. A. Shift the emphasis in funding, policy and program development from intervention to prevention.
14. Leon Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer The Center for Health Care Services San Antonio, Texas For additional information please contact: Leon Evans Office: (210)731-1300 Email: levans@chcsbc.org Thank you ! www.chcsbc.org