Our Children Succeed Initiative Our Children Succeed Initiative (OCS)(OCS)

Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives Northwest Minnesota Council of Collaboratives Annual Meeting -- October 31Annual Meeting -- October 31stst, 2007, 2007

Brenda Anderson, Project DirectorBrenda Anderson, Project Director Maureen Hams, Parent, Governance Board Maureen Hams, Parent, Governance Board

MemberMember Colleen MacRae, Social Marketing/TA/Colleen MacRae, Social Marketing/TA/

Communications DirectorCommunications Director Tim Denny, Evaluation SpecialistTim Denny, Evaluation Specialist

System of Care Parents, Partners and StaffSystem of Care Parents, Partners and Staff

Our Children Succeed Initiative is a partnership of children, youth, parents and caregivers who promote competent and coordinated services designed to enhance access to, and the effectiveness of, services for children and youth with social, emotional and behavioral concerns and their families in Northwestern Minnesota.

We believe that services need to reflect the culturally and linguistically diverse needs of families served including respect for heritage, customs, beliefs, and values of racial, ethnic, religious and social groups in a family-driven, youth-guided process to identify and carry out needed services.

OUR CHILDREN SUCCEED INITIATIVE

A Children’s Mental Health System of Careserving Kittson, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Polk and Red Lake Counties603 Bruce Street P.O. Box 603 Crookston, MN 56716 (218) 281-0265

Fax: (218) 281-6261 www.ourchildrensucceedinitiative.org

Northwest – Oct. 2006 Kittson, Polk, Marshall, Red Lake, Norman, Mahnomen and the White Earth Indian Reservation

STARS for Children’s Mental Health – Oct. 2005

• Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright

PACT4 – Oct. 1999

• Yellow Medicine, Renville, Kandiyohi, Meeker, and the Upper Sioux Community

Our Children Succeed InitiativeOur Children Succeed Initiative Application submitted via the Northwest Application submitted via the Northwest

Minnesota Council of Collaboratives Minnesota Council of Collaboratives Polk County Social Services is the fiscal hostPolk County Social Services is the fiscal host Funded through: Substance Abuse and Mental Funded through: Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) -- Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) -- Comprehensive Community Mental Health Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services Program for Children and their FamiliesServices Program for Children and their Familiesand administered by Children’s Mental Health and administered by Children’s Mental Health Services Division of SAMHSAServices Division of SAMHSA

Funded from October 2006 – September 2012, Funded from October 2006 – September 2012, $7.5 Million Dollars$7.5 Million Dollars

Grants or Cooperative Agreements Grants or Cooperative Agreements awarded to provide:awarded to provide:

A broad array of comprehensive A broad array of comprehensive community based services for children community based services for children with serious emotional, behavioral or with serious emotional, behavioral or mental health disordersmental health disorders

To enable communities to develop local To enable communities to develop local systems of care consisting of mental systems of care consisting of mental health, child welfare, education, juvenile health, child welfare, education, juvenile justice and other child serving agenciesjustice and other child serving agencies

System of Care Value BaseSystem of Care Value Base System of Care is a philosophy of how care should be deliveredSystem of Care is a philosophy of how care should be delivered One family: one planOne family: one plan Community-based responsivenessCommunity-based responsiveness Increased parent choiceIncreased parent choice Increased family independenceIncreased family independence Care for children in context of familiesCare for children in context of families Care for families in context of communityCare for families in context of community Never give upNever give up Build on strengths to meet needsBuild on strengths to meet needs An ideal System of Care model includes a comprehensive spectrum An ideal System of Care model includes a comprehensive spectrum

of mental health and other necessary services which are organized of mental health and other necessary services which are organized into a coordinated network to meet the multiple and changing into a coordinated network to meet the multiple and changing needs of children and their familiesneeds of children and their families

Agencies compliment each another, staff work as part of a child’s Agencies compliment each another, staff work as part of a child’s care teamcare team

Target Population:Target Population: Children and Adolescents who have a diagnosable mental health Children and Adolescents who have a diagnosable mental health

disorder; and specifically:disorder; and specifically:

1.1. Children with mental health issues in out-of-home placementsChildren with mental health issues in out-of-home placements2.2. Youth who meet the above criteria involved in 1) the juvenile Youth who meet the above criteria involved in 1) the juvenile

justice system 2) the child welfare systemjustice system 2) the child welfare system3.3. Youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use/abuse Youth with co-occurring mental health and substance use/abuse

issuesissues4.4. Infants and young children with mental health issuesInfants and young children with mental health issues5.5. Young adults (18-21) with mental health issuesYoung adults (18-21) with mental health issues It is estimated that It is estimated that 1,783 children1,783 children over the age of 9 and young over the age of 9 and young

adults struggle with a serious emotional disturbance in our regionadults struggle with a serious emotional disturbance in our region

Overarching Goal of Our Initiative:Overarching Goal of Our Initiative:

To bring our current System of Care to full To bring our current System of Care to full scale by:scale by:

1.1. Including parents and youth as partners and co-Including parents and youth as partners and co-decision makersdecision makers

2.2. Reaching un-served, under-served at-risk children, Reaching un-served, under-served at-risk children, youth and young adults and culturally distinct youth and young adults and culturally distinct populationspopulations

3.3. Applying Evidenced Based Models of InterventionApplying Evidenced Based Models of Intervention4.4. Evaluating the effectiveness of the system of care and Evaluating the effectiveness of the system of care and

it’s component servicesit’s component services

Governance CommitteeGovernance Committee

Reports to the Council of Collaboratives and is Reports to the Council of Collaboratives and is responsible for project oversight, program responsible for project oversight, program design & development, monitoring and design & development, monitoring and evaluation, appointment of other committee and evaluation, appointment of other committee and team members, development of a grievance team members, development of a grievance policy and procedures, periodic review of policy and procedures, periodic review of sustainability plan and meets monthlysustainability plan and meets monthly

51% of members parents, 49% CEO’s and 51% of members parents, 49% CEO’s and Superintendents Superintendents

Planning TeamPlanning Team Appointed by the Governance Board and works to ensure all activities of Appointed by the Governance Board and works to ensure all activities of

the project reflect preferred practices related to:the project reflect preferred practices related to:• strategy and implementationstrategy and implementation development development • social marketingsocial marketing (overseeing the development and implementation of a (overseeing the development and implementation of a

social marketing plan of action to increase awareness of children's social marketing plan of action to increase awareness of children's mental health issues and to provide communication support linking all mental health issues and to provide communication support linking all partners under a shared vision of the Our Children Succeed Initiative) partners under a shared vision of the Our Children Succeed Initiative)

• cultural and linguistic competencycultural and linguistic competency (ensuring all activities of the project (ensuring all activities of the project reflect preferred practices related to cultural and linguistic competence) reflect preferred practices related to cultural and linguistic competence)

• interagency training/workforce developmentinteragency training/workforce development (continuously review all (continuously review all aspects of service delivery, assessing workforce issues and training aspects of service delivery, assessing workforce issues and training needs to realize Initiative goals) needs to realize Initiative goals)

• youth and parent involvementyouth and parent involvement • training and technical assistancetraining and technical assistance• evaluationevaluation The membership includes the Initiative staff, direct care providers, The membership includes the Initiative staff, direct care providers,

parents, representatives from culturally diverse groups, advocacy parents, representatives from culturally diverse groups, advocacy organizations and representatives from the Council of organizations and representatives from the Council of CollaborativesCollaboratives..

Objectives:Objectives: Objective #1:Objective #1: Reduce out-of-home and out-of- Reduce out-of-home and out-of-

region placement of children with severe region placement of children with severe emotional disturbance by at least 50% by Year emotional disturbance by at least 50% by Year 6, from 237 children to 118 children.6, from 237 children to 118 children.

Objective #2:Objective #2: Reduce hospitalization, Reduce hospitalization, involvement in the juvenile justice system, involvement in the juvenile justice system, homelessness and chemical abuse, while homelessness and chemical abuse, while increasing employment, successful transition to increasing employment, successful transition to higher education programs, and independent higher education programs, and independent housing for youth and young adults ages 18 – housing for youth and young adults ages 18 – 21 who experience severe emotional 21 who experience severe emotional disturbance or co-occurring disorders.disturbance or co-occurring disorders.

Objectives:Objectives: Objective #3:Objective #3: Reduce by 40% by Year 6, the Reduce by 40% by Year 6, the

rates of school truancy, school drop outs, rates of school truancy, school drop outs, chemical abuse and homelessness, with a focus chemical abuse and homelessness, with a focus on youth in the juvenile justice system, youth on youth in the juvenile justice system, youth experiencing co-occurring disorders, and youth experiencing co-occurring disorders, and youth and young adults from diverse cultures with and young adults from diverse cultures with severe emotional disturbance.severe emotional disturbance.

Objective #4:Objective #4: Reduce the number of young Reduce the number of young children at risk for developing a severe children at risk for developing a severe emotional disturbance.emotional disturbance.

Benefits to Children and Families Benefits to Children and Families “enrolling” in our System of Care“enrolling” in our System of Care

Family has access to a family mentor, with an Family has access to a family mentor, with an initial phone call occurring within 48 hoursinitial phone call occurring within 48 hours

Child and Family will have a formal family and Child and Family will have a formal family and child team meeting scheduled within the first 72 child team meeting scheduled within the first 72 hours of referral, first meeting can be facilitated hours of referral, first meeting can be facilitated either by the wrap coordinator/facilitator, county either by the wrap coordinator/facilitator, county case manager or other individual involved with case manager or other individual involved with the family trained in the wrap process and the family trained in the wrap process and approved by the familyapproved by the family

Benefits to Children and Families Benefits to Children and Families “enrolling” in our System of Care“enrolling” in our System of Care

Families choosing to participate in a Families choosing to participate in a universal intake process will see less universal intake process will see less duplication and reduced burden of duplication and reduced burden of paperworkpaperwork

If children and their families are referred If children and their families are referred for enrollment in the System of Care and for enrollment in the System of Care and do not meet eligibility criteria, a referral to do not meet eligibility criteria, a referral to existing community supports and services existing community supports and services will be offered will be offered

Specific OCS Initiative Specific OCS Initiative Activities Include:Activities Include:

Diagnostic and evaluation servicesDiagnostic and evaluation services School-based mental health assessments, School-based mental health assessments,

consultation, training and crisis interventionconsultation, training and crisis intervention Child and Family Care Team meetings via fidelity Child and Family Care Team meetings via fidelity

wrap around processwrap around process Early childhood mental health prevention and Early childhood mental health prevention and

intervention activitiesintervention activities Expansion of Evidenced Based Interventions, Expansion of Evidenced Based Interventions,

including Functional Family Therapy, Family Group including Functional Family Therapy, Family Group Decision MakingDecision Making

Specific OCS InitiativeSpecific OCS InitiativeActivities Include:Activities Include:

Family mentors and youth leaders to help Family mentors and youth leaders to help children and their families with questions, children and their families with questions, concerns and unmet needsconcerns and unmet needs

Implementation of Transition to Independence Implementation of Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Process (TIP)

Intensive Care Management Services assisting Intensive Care Management Services assisting children and familieschildren and families

Specific OCS Initiative Specific OCS Initiative Activities Include:Activities Include:

System Enhancement Activities (training System Enhancement Activities (training opportunities on excelling in our System of Care; opportunities on excelling in our System of Care; training/consultation on cultural diversity; training training/consultation on cultural diversity; training on Evidenced Based Practices)on Evidenced Based Practices)

Social marketing: providing factual information to Social marketing: providing factual information to schools and child-serving agencies and the schools and child-serving agencies and the public about mental health issues – de-public about mental health issues – de-stigmatizing mental healthstigmatizing mental health

Other benefits:Other benefits: Liaison from the MN Dept of Human Services assigned Liaison from the MN Dept of Human Services assigned

to our projectto our project Linking with the state to utilize MN Practice Wise an Linking with the state to utilize MN Practice Wise an

evidenced based practices data baseevidenced based practices data base Small amount of “Flexible funding” to help children and Small amount of “Flexible funding” to help children and

families meet treatment goalsfamilies meet treatment goals For our Native American population, including Native For our Native American population, including Native

Healing Traditions related to our System of Care goalsHealing Traditions related to our System of Care goals Tele-Mental Health Services Tele-Mental Health Services Education/Training/Outreach/Information Dissemination Education/Training/Outreach/Information Dissemination

to Physicians, Law Enforcement, Judges, Respite to Physicians, Law Enforcement, Judges, Respite Providers on general and specific children’s mental Providers on general and specific children’s mental health issues health issues

Year 1 Accomplishments:Year 1 Accomplishments:

Formation of our Governance Board, comprised Formation of our Governance Board, comprised 51% parents and 49% Agency Executive 51% parents and 49% Agency Executive Directors and a SuperintendentDirectors and a Superintendent

Formation of an Administrative CommitteeFormation of an Administrative Committee Formation of a Planning Committee, responsible Formation of a Planning Committee, responsible

to the Governance Board to address Systems to the Governance Board to address Systems Issues regarding Cultural and Linguistic Issues regarding Cultural and Linguistic Competence, Evaluation, Training and Competence, Evaluation, Training and Workforce Development and Social Marketing Workforce Development and Social Marketing

Year 1 AccomplishmentsYear 1 Accomplishments Completed the following work plans: Family Involvement, Clinical Completed the following work plans: Family Involvement, Clinical

Services, Early ChildhoodServices, Early Childhood

Following work plans in process:Following work plans in process: Cultural Competence Cultural Competence Enrollment Enrollment Dual Diagnosis Dual Diagnosis School-Based Services School-Based Services Youth in Transition Youth in Transition Youth InvolvementYouth Involvement Juvenile JusticeJuvenile Justice EvaluationEvaluationAll plans include our SOC goals, objectives and strategies to guide All plans include our SOC goals, objectives and strategies to guide

service delivery.service delivery.

Year 1 AccomplishmentsYear 1 Accomplishments OCS staff hired (see handout)OCS staff hired (see handout) Planning and coordination with each of the Planning and coordination with each of the

County Social Services Agencies who provide County Social Services Agencies who provide children’s mental health case management and children’s mental health case management and referral services referral services

Monthly planning meetings with White Earth Monthly planning meetings with White Earth Tribal Human and Mental Health ServicesTribal Human and Mental Health Services

Participation in technical assistance federal site Participation in technical assistance federal site visits in June 2007 & October 2007visits in June 2007 & October 2007

Active participation of State Liaison - Kathy Active participation of State Liaison - Kathy JeffersonJefferson

Year 2 ObjectivesYear 2 Objectives

Start serving children and families in Our Children Start serving children and families in Our Children Succeed by December 2007Succeed by December 2007

Continue Governance Board, Administrative and Continue Governance Board, Administrative and Planning Committee Meetings Planning Committee Meetings

Continue to involve parents throughout the system as Continue to involve parents throughout the system as partners and co-decision makerspartners and co-decision makers

Enhance our youth involvement throughout the systemEnhance our youth involvement throughout the system Continue to enhance relationships between child-serving Continue to enhance relationships between child-serving

agencies and school districtsagencies and school districts Implement Early Childhood strategies including training, Implement Early Childhood strategies including training,

consulting and home-visits with children and familiesconsulting and home-visits with children and families

Year 2 ObjectivesYear 2 Objectives

Fully utilize family mentorsFully utilize family mentors Further develop roles and responsibilities for Further develop roles and responsibilities for

youth leaders and work on a hiring planyouth leaders and work on a hiring plan Complete mental health screenings and Complete mental health screenings and

diagnostic assessments on children who appear diagnostic assessments on children who appear to be struggling with a mental health issue to be struggling with a mental health issue

Expand intensive care coordination and in-home Expand intensive care coordination and in-home family therapy servicesfamily therapy services

Implement Youth in Transition (18-21) services Implement Youth in Transition (18-21) services via the Transition to Independence Processvia the Transition to Independence Process

Year 2 ObjectivesYear 2 Objectives

Provide crisis intervention and consultationProvide crisis intervention and consultation Provide school-based mental health Provide school-based mental health

assessments, training and consultationassessments, training and consultation Implement social marketing strategies to de-Implement social marketing strategies to de-

stigmatize children’s mental health issuesstigmatize children’s mental health issues Continue to work closely with our State Liaison, Continue to work closely with our State Liaison,

linking our project to the MN Department of linking our project to the MN Department of Human ServicesHuman Services

Utilize ITV and Tele-mental health, when Utilize ITV and Tele-mental health, when appropriateappropriate

Year 2 ObjectivesYear 2 Objectives

Conduct Professional, Parent and Youth Conduct Professional, Parent and Youth Leadership trainingLeadership training

Offer workforce development training Offer workforce development training Implement specific children’s mental health Implement specific children’s mental health

trainings, based on requests and staff availabilitytrainings, based on requests and staff availability Complete a systems-wide cultural and linguistic Complete a systems-wide cultural and linguistic

competence assessmentcompetence assessment Engage in Evaluation to include data collection Engage in Evaluation to include data collection

and feedback to partners, consumers and and feedback to partners, consumers and stakeholdersstakeholders

Major Strengths of our Current Major Strengths of our Current System of CareSystem of Care

Our communities already offer quick access to services, Our communities already offer quick access to services, many home and community based services and many home and community based services and excellent collaboration, cooperation and communication excellent collaboration, cooperation and communication amongst agencies and schools amongst agencies and schools

Passionate and committed parents, youth, service Passionate and committed parents, youth, service providers and school personnel focused on the goals of providers and school personnel focused on the goals of this Initiative…this Initiative…

Greatest Potential for GrowthGreatest Potential for Growth

Our greatest potential for growth is: Our greatest potential for growth is: Establishing a well-coordinated Family-Driven System of Establishing a well-coordinated Family-Driven System of

CareCare Enhancing our communication and information Enhancing our communication and information

dissemination process so that parents, youth and partners dissemination process so that parents, youth and partners are well informed regarding System of Care activities are well informed regarding System of Care activities

Assuring that youth are involved in our System of Care Assuring that youth are involved in our System of Care through all aspects of services and outcomesthrough all aspects of services and outcomes

Utilizing Child and Family Care teams to develop a plan of Utilizing Child and Family Care teams to develop a plan of care for the children servedcare for the children served

Launching a community-based social marketing campaignLaunching a community-based social marketing campaign Assuring the best possible outcomes for children and Assuring the best possible outcomes for children and

families in Northwestern Minnesotafamilies in Northwestern Minnesota

Contact InformationContact InformationBrenda Anderson, MSW, LICSW, Project Director, Brenda Anderson, MSW, LICSW, Project Director,

Our Children Succeed Initiative, Northwestern Mental Health Our Children Succeed Initiative, Northwestern Mental Health CenterCenter

banderson@nwmhc.orgbanderson@nwmhc.org 218.281.3940 218.281.3940

Terri Heggie, Lead Family Contact, Polk County Social Services Terri Heggie, Lead Family Contact, Polk County Social Services terri.heggie@co.polk.mn.usterri.heggie@co.polk.mn.us 218.281.3127218.281.3127

Colleen MacRae, Social Marketing/Communications/Technical Colleen MacRae, Social Marketing/Communications/Technical Assistance Director, c/o Northwestern Mental Health CenterAssistance Director, c/o Northwestern Mental Health Center

colmacrae@nwmhc.orgcolmacrae@nwmhc.org 218.281.3940218.281.3940

www.councilofcollaboratives.orgwww.councilofcollaboratives.orgwww.nwmnconnections.orgwww.nwmnconnections.org

www.ourchildrensucceedinitiative.orgwww.ourchildrensucceedinitiative.org218.281.0265218.281.0265