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Safety NetCollaborative

….Protecting the Future by diverting Children to essential Care today!

Bexar County

Children’s Diversion

Initiative

Sub Committee’s• County/City School Districts• Child Protective Services• Juvenile Justice - Probation

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

Conversation TWO: Intermediate possible steps and explorationa. Extending hours at Josephine (CHCS)b. Explore provision of emergency shelter when “cool down” is needed but hospitalization is not, after screening & disposition at Josephinec. Explore medical clearance issues/partnershipsd. Collect data – those accepted and not accepted at

Juvenile Detention, which ISD’s are referring, data from Josephine and ER’s

e. Educating the community, SAPD, DMOT, ISDPD’s

Children’s Diversion Initiative for Youth with Mental Health Needs

Children’s Diversion to focus on:

• reducing the number of juveniles with mental health & co-occurring disorders from escalating in the juvenile justice system;

• integrating care for youth & parents with mental health needs also involved in the Child Protective Services system;

• reducing drop out rates by providing for the mental health needs of at risk students who demonstrate symptomatic behaviors such as truancy & persistent misbehavior; facilitating integrated & coordinated care across systems with effective & efficient information sharing

Steps to Doing Things Differently: Creating a System that is Agile, Adaptable, Allied, Child-Centered and Family-Focused

SHORT TERM: Achievable in 1 Year Required Action Status/Responsibility

CONNECTING FAMILIES to INFORMATION and SUPPORT

A. Publicize the availability of the 211 system in schools.

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.

B. Publicize the availability of Network of Care throughout the community.

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.

1.

C. Identify and train voluntary Coordinators of Care or Family Navigators from among the case management staff at area community centers.

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.

D. Create a yahoo group for parents of children with mental health issues.

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.

ALLIANCES and COLLABORATIONS

A. Establish MOUs among all public and private organizations willing to play a role in an integrated system of care.

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.

C. Establish dedicated liaisons between public partners, i.e., CPS representatives in schools and assigned to Juvenile Probation and CHCS.

1.2.3.

LONG TERM: Will Take More Than 1 Year Required Action Status/Responsibility

LAYING the GROUNDWORK for SYSTEM CHANGE

A. Establish a system of care, a multi-disciplinary, integrated approach to the care and treatment of children with mental health issues.

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.

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.

D. Develop a communitywide campaign to de-stigmatize mental illness.

1.2.3.

PREVENTION and EARLY INTERVENTION

A. Shift the emphasis in funding, policy and program development from intervention to prevention.

1.2.3.

A. Shift the emphasis in funding, policy and program development from intervention to prevention.

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.

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.

SCHOOL-BASED SUPPORTS

A. Create peer support programs. 1.2.3.

B. Engage children and youth with mental health issues in extra curricular activities.

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.

D. Increase the availability of CIS or other in-school social work or case management resources.

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.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES

A. Train and prepare parents to be their child’s Case Manager and an effective advocate.

1.2.3.

B. Provide respite care opportunities for parents of children with mental health issues.

1.2.3.

Leon Evans, President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Center for Health Care Services

San Antonio, TexasFor additional information please contact: Leon Evans

Office: (210)731-1300 Email: levans@chcsbc.org

Thank you !

www.chcsbc.org