A collaboration is a mutually beneficial and

well-defined relationship entered into by two

or more organizations to achieve results that they are more likely to achieve together

than alone.

-From Collaboration Handbook, 1994

MAAC was formed in 1996.

MAAC is a non-profit 501(c)3

MAAC Is COA Accredited as a Network since 2006 (Care Coordination-Service Standard 2012)

MAAC is collaboration of 8 nonprofit Child Welfare/DBHDD providers across the state.

MAAC is also part of the GYOI, GA EmpowerMEnt, and Teen Parent Connection.

Our goal is to keep youth in the lowest level of care possible with creative supports.

Private Provider Community is trying to move towards more community-based services and less congregate care.

One way we are moving in that direction is as Care Management Entity and work in CBAY Program.

PBC moving towards Community-Based services and supporting providers to achieve common goals.

Link

Residential

EmpowerMEnt High Fidelity Wraparound

Coordinate

Identify

Advocate

Facilitate

Conduct

Communicate

Navigate

Collaborate

Alleviate

Path is as important as goal

Generate

Do no harm

Shared responsibility

Do what is right for each individual family

Youth voice

Life is messy

Youth choice

Achieve highest potential

Respect

Families are unique

http://www.devereux.org/site/PageServer

•Youth in PRTF

•Youth with Serious Mental Health

Challenges

•Youth with multiple previous placement

disruptions

•Youth in DFCS custody over 24 months

(Average length of time in DFCS custody

for MAAC youth is 30 months).

MAAC YOUTH

Managed Care coming to Georgia!!

Defining our services

Convincing our Boards

Paradigm shifts for agency staff

Who’s in charge?

Are we legal yet?

To be or not to be a 501(c)3

Business Plan

Getting the word out!

Work in partnership with DFCS, youth, family, and providers to achieve goals!!

Receive referrals from the Office of Provider Management, County DFCS Directors, and the Regional Specialists of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

Authorize supports and services to assist youth in getting to the least restrictive placement possible, supports in a crisis, and proactive supports to avoid crisis.

Create opportunities for youth success

Fill in gaps in service to maintain continuity

Participate in local and statewide System of Care activities.

All MAAC referrals come to MAAC office

with 1 application for all programs.

No eject/no reject program

Document Storage

Seamless transition between agencies

Support Services

Care Coordinator that works with the

youth regardless of where they live.

Georgia EmpowerMEnt

To get youth to permanence whenever

possible!!!

Youth Voice in plan

Help youth plan for the future

Least restrictive placement possible

Stay in discharge placement for at least

6 months.

Help youth out of PRTF stay

Creative and Individual plans to get

them there!

By using the partner agencies to create creative

plans and help youth to achieve long term goals.

› Shared understanding of what the youth needs

and what is the long term goal.

› Agencies need to talk together and work

together to get youth what they need.

› Agencies need to see beyond their agency but

the role their agency plays in the youths life.

› MAAC staff are expected to be good team

members and stay solution focused.

By seeing problems as solvable instead

of insurmountable obstacles. (really

looking at the youths need not just the

agency need)

By listening to youth voice and energy to

drive plans

By working together and keeping the

needs of the youth at the center.

The Clinical Team (CT) consists of one person from each partner agency.

CT meetings are every week either by Conference Call or Face-to-Face.

The CT stays on top of the progress of all MAAC Youth, assists with transfers from one agency to another, helps welcome new youth to their home agency and advocates to get supports the youth need.

I. Funding is not an issue. All services are

available to all children referred to

MAAC. (Money is not the object!)

2. Always work toward referring to the

least restrictive environment available,

remembering the issues of safety.

Review Referrals

Transitions

› Emergency

› Non-Emergency

Discharges

Staff Turn-over in agencies and state

offices

Getting Agencies

to understand MAAC

› Tour de MAAC

› Presentations

Partners

DFCS/DJJ

Weekly Wednesday meeting still happen

just not always face-to-face

MAAC staff are there to support CT

members

Youth do not get what they need

Positive Outcomes are in jeopardy

Best Practices are not being followed

There may be substantial financial

repercussions

MAAC has always functioned on a capitated rate

(per diem)

› Same rate for every child

› Room, Board, Watchful Oversight (per diem)

› Support Services

Determined by Clinical Team

Individual Team Meetings

MAAC carries the financial risk for all RBWO

placements

Operating expenses remain less than 5% of overall

budget.

Case Rate (CME)

› Services are purchased through the TPA.

MAAC holds all financial risk for

residential placements. Between the

Clinical Team and MAAC staff they

make sure that we are always making

sure that youth are in the lowest and

best placement, stable, and getting the

right services.

We are fiscally responsible when

developing plans for youth.

MOU with all providers

› Residential services require proof of

insurance, accreditation, financial audits,

and good ORCC standing

› Independent contractors require proof of

insurance

› We reserve right to cancel or reject any

contract at any time.

› Notes for all services accompany billing

PQI Committee consist of one

representative from each agency

(mostly the agency PQI person)

Meet Quarterly

Chair is Board member and reports from

the Committee to the Board Quarterly

Incidents that involve ANY YOUTH that result in a

citation of Maltreatment or fine by ORCC.

PBC Report Cards are coming out and MAAC will

have specific requirements for membership

MAAC surveys are sent out once a year to all

youth, families, and stakeholders

Referral information

# pre-placement visits

Average length of stay

149 referrals (doubled since 2008)

88 or 60% of youth placed

› Of those not placed 84% no longer needed placement or DFCS didn’t follow-up

0/0 ejected/rejected

55% of youth discharged to family, relative, adoption, or no

longer in care

Median length of stay 9.41 months and average is

12.79 months

0 youth disrupted after 6 months

Strength-Based/Solution

Focused Approach

*Youth are the experts – they

“live/have lived” the foster

care experience first-hand.

*Foster care solutions originate

with youth, from the unique

skills each youth contributes in

his/her own way.

*Youth lead the vision - we

follow and provide support.

CMEs look different everywhere. Overarching goal is the same:

serve as a locus of accountability to perform key functions to assure effective organization, delivery and financing of care.

Key functions include:

› Child and Family Teams, responsible for development,

coordination, and monitoring of individualized plans;

› Intensive Coordination of formal, informal and natural supports;

› Quality Assurance to assess and improve the implementation of

wraparound and adherence to values

› Utilization Management to support real time analysis of services

and the cost and effectiveness of services

› Provider Network Management, with responsibility for network

recruitment, organization and oversight.

› Evaluation, which includes outcomes for youth and families

served across life domains.

Based on 4 Key Elements:

1. Wraparound is Grounded in a Strengths Perspective

2. Wraparound is Driven by Underlying Needs

3. Wraparound is Supported by an Effective Team Process

4. Wraparound is Determined by Families

For wraparound to be considered high-fidelity and quality practice, all 4

elements must be present

1. Family voice and choice

2. Natural supports

3. Team based

4. Collaboration

5. Community based

6. Culturally competent

7. Individualized

8. Strength based

9. Persistence

10. Outcome based

Mission: To connect the people, systems and resources necessary to assist young people impacted by the foster care system.

Part of national Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative; one of thirteen sites.

Five Strategies: Youth Engagement, Partnerships and Resources, Research, Evaluation and Communication, Public Will and Policy and Increased Opportunities.

Program Components

◦ EmpowerMEnt, Sarah Bess Hudson Project Coordinator

◦ Individual Development Accounts, Kristin Sanchez, ILP Director

◦ Community Partnership Groups and Door Openers, Victoria Salzman, GYOI Program Coordinator

A group of current and former foster youth between the ages of 14-26+ engaged to work in partnership with adult child advocates and Georgia’s Child Welfare leaders to make improvements in the child welfare system.

The group aims to reflect diversity in membership with respect to age, gender, culture/ethnicity, life experiences, educational & employment status, sexual orientation, family makeup, abilities/strengths, placement type, and geography (across 17 designated regions).

Medicaid from 18-21 – ACHIEVED 7/1/08

Support for Drivers License

Stable school experience

Stronger relationship with DFCS Case managers

Network of Caring, consistent and permanent relationships

Remain with their children while in foster care.

Victoria Salzman, GYOI Program Coordinator

Public/Private and Youth/Adult partnership group working on a state

wide level to leverage resources and community support for youth

aging out of care. Focused on creating “Door Openers” in the

areas of housing, physical and mental health, education, personal

and community engagement, employment, and permanency.

Door Openers are connections and relationships that assist youth in

aging out of care successfully. These include:

› Healthcare

› Education opportunities

› Job training

› Access to needed items

› Any opportunity that will help them successfully transition

Teen Parent Connection

The MAAC office is located in downtown

Atlanta in the United Way Building.

MAAC

100 Edgewood Avenue, Suite 810

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404)-880-9323

Fax: (404) 880-9325

www.maac4kids.org