Introduction Federal Programs for Child Mental Health Services Principles for a Successful Funding Strategy Blending or Braiding Federal Funds Using Federal Funds Effectively Entitlements and Permanent Authorities How States Use Federal Entitlement and Block Grant Funds Discretionary Programs Plug the Gaps Matrix of Federal Entitlement and Block Grant Programs to Support Systems of Care for Children with Serious Mental and Emotional Disorders Collaborations for Interagency Systems of Care Who Collaborates? First Steps to Take Getting Down to Business Barriers to Overcome Keeping Collaborations Going Managing Change in Difficult Times Conclusion Notes Further Readings Tables 1. Purposes of and Constraints in Major Federal Programs 2. Discretionary Federal Programs Supporting Services and Activities of Interagency Systems of Care for Children with Mental Health Needs Principles for a System of Care for Child and Adolescent Services

Further Reading

Building Systems of Care

Pires, Sheila A., Building Systems of Care: A Primer. (Spring, 2002). Washington, DC: Human Service Collaborative for (and available from) the National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000).

Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, Systems of Care: Promising Practices in Children’s Mental Health Series (1999, 2000 and 2001). CMHS Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, Substance Abuse and Mental health services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (301/433-1333).

Cole, Robert F., Poe, Stephanie, L. (1993) Partnerships for Care: Systems of Care for Children with Serious Emotional Disturbances and their Families, The Mental Health Services Program for Youth. Washington DC: Washington Business Group on Health.

Medicaid

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law (1999). Making Sense of Medicaid. Washington DC: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.

Pires, Sheila A., (2002). Health Care Reform Tracking Project: Promising Approaches for Behavioral Health Services to Children and Adolescents and Their Families in Managed Care Systems—Managed Care Design and Financing. Tampa, FL: Research & Training Center for Children’s Mental Health, Dept. of Child & Family Studies, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. (FMHI Publication #211-1)

Child Welfare

Hepburn, Kathy & McCarthy, Jan, (2003). Health Care Reform Tracking Project: Promising Approaches for Behavioral Health Services to Children and Adolescents and Their Families in Managed Care Systems–Making Interagency Initiatives Work for Children & Families in the Child Welfare System. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development. Available at: gucdc.georgetown.edu.

Meeting the Health Care Needs of Children in the Foster Care System (2002) National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Summary of a three-year study to identify and describe promising approaches for meeting the physical, mental, emotional, developmental and dental health care needs of children in the foster care system.

Stark, Deborah (September, 1999). Collaboration Basics: Strategies from Six Communities Engaged in Collaborative Efforts Among Families, Child Welfare and Children’s Mental Health CW05 National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Describes practical strategies for mental health and child welfare systems to work together with families on issues that require the attention and commitment of families and both systems. This document provides a summary of lessons learned from three national organizations representing child welfare, mental health, and families. Reviews successes and struggles of six state and community sites, lists principles to guide collaboration, elements of effective collaboration, and gives a checklist to guide the collaborative process.

Meyers, Judith, McCarthy, Jan and Vivian Jackson, (May 1999) The Adoption and Safe Families Act: Exploring the Opportunity for Collaboration between Child Mental Health and Child Welfare Systems (CW03). National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). A resource technical assistance guide tool for child welfare and children’s mental health systems about the Adoption and Safe Families Act exploring creative ways for child welfare and children’s mental health systems to work together.

Education

Wischman, Amy, Kates, Donald and Kaufmann, Roxane (March 2001) Funding Early Childhood Mental Health Services and Supports (EI07) National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Workbook for states, communities and programs to navigate federal programs and tax provisions providing benefit to children and families. Based on a meeting of stakeholders and experts. Provides: a blank matrix that can be used to consolidate the services and funding source inventories into a single, two-dimensional depiction; Tables listing services and financing resources; and a description of funding sources outlining eligibility criteria, services and activities covered, provider qualifications, and any special features or unique issues to consider.

Feinberg Edward and Fenichel, Emily (September 1996). Who Will Hear My Cry? Developing a System of Care to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Infants, Toddlers, Preschoolers and Their Families. (EI04) National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Describes an invitational meeting where states, communities, and national experts shared promising policies and strategies for developing an early childhood system of care that meets the social/ emotional needs of young children and their families. Defines mental health needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers and their families; looks at the key components of a system of care to meet the needs of young children; and addresses barriers to system development and strategies for change.

Family Partnerships

Adams, Jane, Biss, Charles, Burrell Mohammad, Valerie, Meyers, Judith & Slaton, Elaine (September 1998). Learning From Colleagues: Family/ Professional Partnerships: Moving Forward Together A product of the Peer Technical Assistance Network. National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). (FAM03) A monograph reflecting dialogue between professionals and family advocates on issues of power, empowerment, interdependence, mutuality, and reciprocity. Presents research and commentary on issues related to a systems approach to family/ professional partnership.

Tannen, Naomi, Families at the Center of the Development of a System of Care FAM02 (April 1996). National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Describes Families First initiative in Essex County, New York, a service system designed and implemented by families for families. Provides a philosophical framework, principles, strategies, and materials for developing a family-driven service system.

Human Resources

Pires, Sheila A., (April, 1995). Resources for Staffing Systems of Care for Children with Emotional Disorders and their Families. National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health, Center for Child Health and Mental Health Policy, Georgetown University Child Development Center (202/687-5000). Manual to help identify strategies and resources for recruiting, retaining, training and developing a workforce to deliver community-based, family-focused services to children and their families within the context of an interagency system of care.

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