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Building a System of Care in Child Welfare: North Carolina. MRS/SOC is System Reform. -From intake to permanency. -3 key components to this reform: Policy reform Philosophy reform Shift in Focus. “It takes a village---”. Families are unique and distinctive One size still does not fit all
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MRS/SOC is System Reform -From intake to permanency. -3 key components to this reform: • Policy reform • Philosophy reform • Shift in Focus
“It takes a village---” • Families are unique and distinctive • One size still does not fit all • Families are more likely to engage and carry out a plan that they have truly taken part in planning-child and family teams • We won’t be involved forever, we need to build a support network of extended family and community partners
North Carolina’s Family Support and Child Welfare System Well-Being Permanency MRS Safety Self-Sufficiency Foster Care Work First CPS Adoption Community Based Programs Family-centered practice and system of care principles are our foundation -
System of Care Supports MRS Implementation • A proven framework for: • Organizing and coordinating services and resources into a comprehensive and interconnected network by: • developing PARTNERSHIPS between individuals, families, and agencies • building on individual and community STRENGTHS and making the most of • existing resources. • Improving the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of frontline service providers toward more FAMILY- CENTERED practices.
System of Care System of Care History • In NC, began in 1994 with national mental health System of Care grants through SAMHSA (Pen-Pal, NC FACES, SOC NET, Mecklenburg CARES) • 2003 NCDSS received System of Care Grant from the Children’s Bureau to expand SOC to other target populations including families in the child welfare system
System of Care Guiding Principles/Values • Interagency Collaboration • Child and Family Partnership • Individualized Strengths-based Care • Cultural Competence • Community-based Services & supports • Accountability toresults
MRS/SOC Success = Successful Partnering Three critical levels of partnership: • State • Community • Family
Strategic Planning • At both the state and local level • Plan based on SOC principles • Continuous evaluation • Yearly planning retreats with TA • Parallel process
State Level Contributions • NCDSS merging MRS/SOC more completely- SOC values part of NCDSS mission-vision/ SOC incorporated into child welfare policy/ MRS/SOC regional meetings • SOC principles driving the PIP: child, youth, and family involvement, interagency collaboration, cultural competency, court involvement, accountability to results • Mandatory child and family team training for all child welfare staff • Mandatory Cultural Competency training • Guidance around engaging service providers using regional CPR • Policy requires that family members are involved in and compensated for attending meetings, training, etc. and use of family co-trainers • All sections of NCDSS are involved in family centered practice training and in the development of the section’s strategic planning • TA from National Resource Centers to strategically plan with CW supervisors to strengthen child welfare supervision at the local DSS • Special projects coordinator position • Presentations at conferences/ Poverty Simulation • Strong ties to State Collaborative for Children, Youth, and Families
State Collaborative for Children, Youth, and Families • NCDSS stakeholder group with family representation • Consensus of child and family team definition • Cross system child and family team curriculum with blended funds • Website with blended funds • Charter and strategic plan • Cross agency Committees including technical assistance and membership • System of Care Conferences/Training Events • Statewide SOC Conference with 350+
Community and Family Partnerships Local County Collaborative groups
Local Collaborative $ $ $ $ $ Community Collaboratives Integrating Resources & Response* One Unified Approach Child Serving Agencies , Community Resources and Families Better outcomes for families and communities Maximizing Resources for a Comprehensive System of Services/Supports: Braided Funding & Blended Services Family, Neighborhood & Community Involvement * John Franz, 1999
Local SOC Efforts • SOC coordinators at DSS • Family partners • Relationships with MH SOC regional coordinators • Cross training • Community building events • Building local collaborative groups and structures such as care review teams • Coordinating services and service planning through child and family teams