February 2007

Question:
The theme around the national meeting in Atlanta was “collaboration”. There was time set aside for each community to meet individually and do some team planning around the status of collaboration in their communities. During this time our community reviewed and assessed where we were and what our next steps could be as far as collaborating with families. I have been assigned to research and find information that would help us build capacity to have a structured and monitored process across systems to incorporate family and youth involvement at levels of our system of care. What are some ideas or examples from other communities that we could possibly review to support our developing and hopefully implementation of a consistent model that all partner agencies could use? Please provide information that would be inclusive of not only policy level work but service delivery and program development also.

Answer:
An overarching term used to define a “family partner” is that one must have been or be a caregiver of a child that has been diagnosed with a serious emotional disability. The family partner must have experience navigating child serving agencies such as juvenile justice systems, educational systems, mental health systems and/or child welfare systems, etc. The youth partners should also have experience as consumers in these child serving agencies.

Family and youth partnerships are so vital to accomplish favorable outcomes for families, youth and children that are currently enrolled in the systems of care because of their “been there, done that” knowledge and background. It has been proven that attempting to implement the process of collaboration with system partners, particularly with family and youth partnerships, can be very challenging. When families and youth are invited, respected as equal partners and are actively involved in the process, they develop a sense of ownership and awareness of not only other family and youth cultures but agency culture as well.

Roles
The family and youth partners can be positioned in many key roles to model partnership at policy, practice and program levels such as:

• Administrators
• Outreach Workers
• Community Engagement
• Resources Specialists
• Care Coordinators
• Advocates
• Trainers/Supervisors
• Parent/Youth Educators
• Evaluators

Involved at the policy level, Family and Youth Partners should have voting authority on boards or advisory groups. They should receive an orientation to the purpose of the group that includes background on information that may be disseminated, and they should be supported in recognizing the purpose of all roles of all participants of the group. Key administrators should have a formal partnership/relationship with the Family/Youth Partner.

Family and Youth Partners involved at the program levels could be included on hiring panels for key staff members, as having an authentic family/youth voice present would help improve the selection of the person to work with families and youth in a system of care. Family and Youth Partners can be utilized as trainers for a broad range of professional trainings regarding system of care, effective practices, wraparound and other topics when it is appropriate to represent a true partnership. Family and Youth Partners would come with experience and viewpoint.

Family and Youth Partners involved at the practice or direct service level would be expected to attend treatment team meetings, care planning, wraparound around meetings, intakes and assessments, case management, home visits and finally supportive and rehabilitative services. They may also assist families and youth with referrals and locating resources. Completing initial intake and assessment within their scope of practice and collecting outcome measures could be other ways to include Family and Youth Partners who may work in direct services. They would be able to empower youth and family members with skills connected with activities of the different life domains, e.g. teaching and reinforcing budgeting, use of public transportation, social and leisure skills, grooming and personal hygiene skills, meal preparation, effective parenting and communication skills.

These suggestions are representative of only a small portion of the positions and duties that families and youth could perform in a system of care. Working as partners with agencies, Family and Youth Partners could come up with other ideas and co-create along with the agencies other roles and/or positions that would benefit their communities’ individual needs.

With Family and Youth Partners serving in these roles it would facilitate their involvement to have a stated purpose and prevent tokenism. Examples of purposeful roles could include:

• Policy and Program Advisors
• Members of hiring panels
• Researchers
• Direct service providers
• Data Collectors
• System or program evaluators
• Trainers/Presenters within the community, state and nation

Supporting family and youth partners in these roles not only fosters their own ability for greater self-sufficiency but that of other family members and youth who are currently receiving services as well. It also helps in creating greater access to services and resources for other family members and youth.

Selection of Family and Youth Partners:
Family and youth partners must meet all requirements for individual communities’ mental health authority, local educational agency, juvenile justice authority, or child protective agency’s standards. This may include passing a background check covering criminal, child abuse, welfare fraud, and other offenses that may be outlined in the employing agencies’ policies and procedures for the hiring of personnel. Oftentimes if offenses are found to be unsuitable for the hiring agency, a waiver may be obtained based on proof of rehabilitation of the person being considered for a position.

Training Needs:
Orientation to the role/position as it relates to the job description, including explanation of “other duties as assigned” and expected activities and outcomes for the role/position. An orientation process would be helpful when partnering with family and youth partners. Orientation should include, but not be limited to:

• Agency’s policies and procedures
• Systems of Care
• How to effectively partner with professionals
• Community and system resources
• Confidentiality processes
• Mandated reporting processes
• Cultural Competence
• Dual Relationships and Boundary Situations
• Safety Concerns/Issues
• Documentation Requirements

Monitoring:

• Activities such as charting progress notes, service plan agreements and collateral sessions could be a vehicle to use to monitor direct service Family and Youth Partners involvement.
• Family and Youth Partners that are in administrative roles could be monitored in monthly status reports and the like.

In conclusion, in responding to the unique needs of families and youth, it is critical for key leaders to form partnerships with Family and Youth Partners. The partnership should embrace the values and practices of the system of care to impact the transformation.

 

References:
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency

Children’s Mental Health Services, Policies and Procedures