Transcript The Baltimore City Planning Process –HB 1386 Single Point

Planning for A Single Point of
Access For Families
One Stop Family Support
and Resource Center
Baltimore, Maryland
BACKGROUND
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Increasing numbers of Maryland
children with complex special needs
were being placed in custody of state
agencies to access needed services
In response, HB 1386 was passed in
2003, which required that all Maryland
counties develop a plan for a single
point of access to services (by 6/05)
BACKGROUND cont..
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Baltimore City, with the largest # of children
with intense needs, was selected as the pilot
project site for the ”Local Access Mechanism”.
The Maryland Governor’s Office of Children,
Youth and Families received a Family Support
360 planning grant from The Administration
on Developmental Disabilities to design a
model One Stop Center for families who have
a child with developmental disabilities, mental
health needs, or other “intensive needs”.
Baltimore City at a glance
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651,154 residents ;161,353 are children under 18*
80% (128,435) of those under age 18 are minorities.*
31% of children are living in poverty.*
15,313 children had a disability qualifying for special
education services as of 10/1/04.
19,541 children and youth received mental health
services via the public mental health system in 2003
Diverse communities- 80% are minority (primarily
African-American; also Latino, Orthodox Jewish and
Asian)
* 2003 U.S. Census Report
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
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The Family League of Baltimore City was
selected to implement the ADD grant- to
develop a “One Stop” Family Support and
Resource Center in Baltimore City to provide:
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Information and referral to families
Targeted assistance to 50 families of children with
intensive needs per year
A “family-centered” culturally competent approach
Who is at the planning table?
Key considerations in establishing:
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Parents from community –essential!
Identifying the other key stakeholders
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Local public child agencies-Dept of Social Services,
schools, Developmental Disabilities Administration,
Juvenile Services, children’s public mental health agency
Family organizations
Providers
Mental health and developmental disability sectors
both represented
Cultural diversity reflecting Baltimore’s
demographics
GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND
DEVELOPING
THE
“PLAN”
CORE VALUES
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Family –
Centered in
approach
Outcomes that
are measurable
Meaningful
parent
leadership
Cultural
Competence
Families hold the
key to their
success
KEY QUES:WHAT DO
FAMILIES & YOUTH WANT?
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Focus groups held with Baltimore City parents
from diverse cultural backgrounds
Parent organizations- Families Involved
Together, Parents Place of Maryland and
Center for Jewish Education hosted groups
Focus group with youth – hosted by Maryland
Association of Resources For Youth (MARFY)
Services the Center Offers
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Information for
families about:
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Disability or mental
health -related
Service providers
Resources
Advocacy/legal organ
Public agencies
Family support
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Assistance with
linking to services
Highly individualized
family-centered
plans (for “target
group” of families)
Family Navigator
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Key component-paid staff of the One Stop
Center who :
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Assist in developing family-centered plans
Assist families w/ accessing services
Are liaison to interagency team
Act as advocate in implementing plan
Model to empower parents/families
Provide periodic follow-up
Are all parents of a child w/disabilities or
mental health needs; most from the City.
INTERAGENCY
Child- serving public
agency partners:
 Dept Social Services
 Juvenile Services
 City school system
 Developmental
Disabilities Admin
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Resolve problems
accessing services
Assist w/ applications
Resource for staff
Referral source
MOUs developed
with agencies for
on- site staffing &
support.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
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Success of project :
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Family satisfaction surveys
Parent steering committee to oversee
Outcome indicators (remained in home;
stable in community, etc..)
Reaching “the community”A recent example
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A project partner-Md Disability Law Center
invites us to attend a meeting of a new Faithbased initiative in a West Baltimore
neighborhood- Upton
26.2% of the homes are vacant
40% have less than a high school education
48% of adults are not in the workforce
Median household income is less than half the
national median income
Almost 50% of high school students miss more
than 20 days of school during year
Upton’s Community Assets
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Informal support systems
Active large churches
Neighborhood organizations
Health clinics
Social service providers
Head start programs
Concerned citizens
Faith-Community Partnershipsome outcomes
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Working with large church (1,000 members)
to obtain TA for its summer program to
successfully include children with mental
health/behavioral issues
Grandmother who is primary caregiver for 5
year old with developmental delays is linked
to us from the church’s Ass’t Pastor.
All the participating churches will distribute
the center’s brochures
Planning a series of workshops for parents
with local NAMI in that community
KEY FINDINGS
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OF THE PLANNING PROCESS
WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED
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Determined key
gaps/barriers to
services & supports
Partnerships developed
across service systemsMH and DD
Strong stakeholder
commitment to project
Shared vision of family
one stop center
PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOPED
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Parents & systems of
care agencies
Non profit advocacy &
public agencies
Cross-system: mental
health & developmental
disability systems
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Parents of children with
MH issues & of children
with DD.
Child welfare agencies
& MH/DD agencies
Faith community
School based mental
health
University of Md Center
for mental health
CHALLENGES
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Lack of data on kids
with “intensive needs”
Recruiting more parents
and Latino members
Lack of universal
application/screening
School system in crisis
Prioritizing needs
Existing silos in system
LESSONS LEARNED
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Need participation
from high-level
agency staff to
obtain commitments
Engage consultants
sooner in developing
needed tools
Learn from others’
challenges/ barriers
Baltimore Families First
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Phone information
and support line
Linkage & support
for families
w/children
w/complex needs
Inter agency team
approach