Families As Partners in Policy

1. Trina W. Osher & Pat Hunt Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health with: Paige Macdonald NY Mike Piper & WA Renata Rhodes WA Tessie Schweitzer MS Families As Partners in Policy A Curriculum for Families & Policy Groups Developed by:

2. This document was developed by the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health as part of the Targeted Technical Assistance project of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the Division of State and Community Systems Development (Mental Health Block Grant) of the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

3. Curriculum Goals • Establishing common ground: • The role for families and family-run organization • The paradigm shift • Policy and where it comes from • What families contribute to policy work • Strategies for recruiting, supporting, and sustaining families in policy work • Developing partnerships • Planning for action

4. Module I:Establishing Common Ground

5. Definition of “Family” A child’s family is the group of individuals who support the child emotionally, physically and financially. A family can include individuals of various ages who are biologically related, related by marriage, or not related at all.

6. Families Provide Children With • Unconditional love • Guidance • Care • Support • Nurturing • It’s own values and culture

7. FAMILY DRIVEN Paradigm Shift

8. PARADIGM SHIFT: The Changing Role for Families

9. PARADIGM SHIFT: The Changing Role for Families

10. STRETCH

11. Definition of “Policy” High-level overall plans – especially for governments that: • embrace general goals and procedures • are used to guide and determine decisions Synonyms = Strategy, principle, rule, law

12. Policy is Also • A definite course of action adopted for the sake of expediency, or to make things easier • An action or procedure conforming to or considered with wisdom

13. Shapes our everyday experience At the grocery store or when we pump gas When we make a purchase & how we pay for it Driving to work How & when our work is done What we must/cannot wear If our insurance will pay for the service or not POLICY ~or the lack thereof~

14. Laws Regulations and rules Standards guidelines Court decisions orders Administrative hearings Administrative decrees Formal agreements Grant applications Legal interpretations Contracts (like for managed care companies, community mental health centers, or labor unions) Where to Find Policy

15. Advisory councils Appointed commissions Beliefs and values Class action law suits Complaints and grievances Due process hearings (IDEA) Investigations and audits Media reports Program evaluation Personal experiences Research Social or economic conditions Tragic events or dramatic outcomes Ideas for Policy Change Come From

16. Source Of Solutions:Policy Applications • Family and youth experiences with: • child serving systems; • funding sources; • public and private agencies, and • providers form the basis for establishing or changing state and local policies.

17. Family Contributions to Policy • Experience-based knowledge • Integrity and credibility • Information that is: • culturally relevant • reality-based • from a perspective that no one else has

18. Enjoy the Break

19. Module IIStrategies for Recruiting, Supporting, and Sustaining Family Members in Policy Work

20. Sample Planning FormatRecruiting and Engaging Families

21. Recruiting & Supporting Families • Use existing opportunities for helping families deliver a unified message • Facilitate • Support • Follow through

22. Recruiting Families • Find common hopes & concerns. • Provide clear information about the policy group’s purpose, authority or level of influence & accomplishments. • Learn which specific policies families are interested in influencing. • Ask what they will need to participate. • Accept the level of involvement they can offer.

23. Reaching Out to Family Members Establish contact & develop relationships • Indirect methods ~ such as contact with • state & local agencies • existing groups & associations • Direct methods ~ such as • sponsoring or attending conferences, forums or topical discussions • hosting celebrations and educational events

24. Preparing Family Members to Make INFORMED Decisions • Provide information about the policy group’s mission, structure, protocols, composition, membership requirements • Let families know when & where the group meets and what expenses (if any) will be covered • Explain the group’s expectations – be especially realistic about time commitments

25. Families Need to Know • Realities of the political, social, and economical environment in which the policy work is being done • Internal & external factors that can impact priority selection & decision making • Natural allies for the policy work. • The source and nature of possible opposition for the specific policy change

26. What Families Need for Consistent & Effective Participation • Tangible, practical & flexible resources • Training & technical assistance for all group members – including role clarification • Logistical supports • Peers at the table • Validation & appreciation

27. Sustaining Family Involvement • Effective leadership • Valid, universal information in a format and language that is understandable • Data & explanations of its implications to support decision making • Consistent communication • Full & diverse complement of family members • Group accountability

28. Sustaining Family Involvement • Staff support • Sense of purpose, acceptance , and accomplishment • Resources for group activities • Connections to one another and the agencies or organizations they are affiliated with • Strategic planning that guides the work • Collaborative working relationships

29. Enjoy Lunch!

30. Module IIIPartnerships

31. Sample Planning Format:Building Partnerships

32. What Can Partnerships do? • Increase resources • Make everyone part of the solution • Expand the base of influence • Reduce isolation & misunderstanding • Create common agenda and interdependence • Increase visibility • Improve access to community supports • Produce change • Provide for better outcomes

33. Building the Partnerships~ Environment ~ • Create the right environment for the work • Share the vision and have a common mission • Listen, LISTEN, LISTEN!!! • Suspend judgment • Honor ALL perspectives • Respect and value diversity • Provide opportunities for learning • Foster autonomy • Encourage curiosity and creativity

34. Supporting the Partnerships~ Training & Technical Assistance ~ • Build trust • Recognize conflicts of interest • Discard personal or agency agendas that get in the way • Understand the external environment(s) • Promote accountability

35. Supporting the Partnerships~ Information ~ • Must be shared • Must be understandable to all • Accommodate diverse learning styles • Include data to help stay focused and keep “personalities” out of the work • Must be relevant and current • Process must be inclusive

36. Preserving the Partnerships~Strategies~ • Co-sponsor activities • Present at one another’s conferences • Offer win-win solutions and create incentives for their adoption • Develop strategic alliances • Follow through with commitments

37. Preserving the Partnerships~ More Strategies ~ • Regularly revisit shared values & principles to maintain focus and drive collaborative work • Demonstrate “Brandless Loyalty” • Celebrate accomplishments!

38. Enjoy the Break

39. Module IVStrategies for Action

40. Moving Forward • Use experience to fuel action • Turn wisdom into results • Focus your passion on changing policy

41. Steps for Changing Policy • Choose and clearly define the issue • Shape your story • Support the position – DATA COUNTS – do your homework • Establish communication lines • Monitor implementation – keep records and track progress

42. Identify Natural Allies BEST • Look for the merchants! • Reach out to others who are interested in the issue. • Peer to peer recruitment • Keep the “high road”

43. Working with Resistance • Establish & honor ground rules – such as: • Respecting other’s views • Recognize & understand fears • Establish trust- build agreement one point at a time • Promote & model accountability • Be prepared for & alert to “divide & conquer” strategies • Stick to the topic and move forward • Demonstrate win-win solutions

44. Define the Issue • Define the ULTIMATE policy change and the incremental steps to reach it • Specify who will benefit – and who will not – from the change • Change as little as possible • Safeguard what is good • Look for unintended consequences • Attend to cultural influences and impact on minorities in the community

45. DO Stay focused Keep it short Keep it simple Be factual Build on one another’s experiences DON’T Get distracted Embarrass anyone Blame specific people, agencies or funding sources Shape Your Story • Story Outline • State the point up front • Give a short chronology of events • Point out particular things that need to change • Lay out your solution • Restate the point – ASK for ACTION

46. Support the Position • Use existing reports, data & circumstances (remember waiting lists, unmet needs, litigation) • Refer to formal recommendations from task forces,advisory committees, mental health councils, and other groups studying children’s mental health • Build on existing state and local plans for children’s mental health and other services • Review fiscal and program audits and monitoring reports

47. Use Communication Networks

48. Move Forward Together • Use universal and jargon free language • Agree on terminology and definitions • Jointly own the issue and new policy – no single partner takes personal credit • Understand, respect, and work with protocols and processes of all partners • Get continuous community and stakeholder feedback and buy-in

49. Celebrate Success!!

50. PLEASE! Tell us what you think. Complete the evaluation form and leave it at the door.