August 2005

Our system of care community has a governance structure, and we are all working hard to recruit family members and youth to participate on the governance board. In an effort to ensure that families are involved with all system of care activities, we have developed a family involvement committee. Currently our lead family contact is working with system of care partners to identify and recruit family members, who are currently participating as service recipients of our system of care project, to participate on this committee. We as families are beginning to come together; we are looking for direction in defining our roles and developing policies and procedures for how we operate. What information can be shared to help us reach our next steps?

Many system of care communities are developing and implementing governance structures that promote the full involvement of consumers and families in policy, decision-making, and advisory capacities. State and local system of care initiatives have developed structures and guidelines that demonstrate a commitment to ensuring the voice of families and consumers in driving system of care development, implementation, and evaluation. All system of care governance structures should strive to have strong family and youth involvement on their governance boards. In addition, family involvement committees are being created to advise system of care governance boards, local and state policy makers, and direct service agencies providing mental health services to our children and families.

Communities are designing and implementing a variety of models for their governance boards and family involvement committees. Some family involvement committees are a subcommittee of the overall governance board and report regularly to the full governance board. In this model, the governance board works together to define its by-laws and procedures, and the family involvement committee is a component within this structure and defined in relationship to it. In another model, the family involvement committee is independent in nature and brings its voice and concerns to system of care governance boards and policy makers. Sometimes this independent model has grown into a family non-profit organization and/or coalition. It is important to understand the purpose and relationships that your family involvement committee is striving to reach.

Below are a number of discussion points and resources to support the development of family involvement committees that serve in a policy and advisory role.

1. Discuss the purpose and goals of your family involvement committee. Is your role to advise your system of care governance structure? Is your role to develop an independent family voice from your system of care? Is your role to advise a mental health agency? Once your committee establishes its purpose, discussion can continue to define specific goals your family involvement committee would like to achieve.
2. Discuss who should be a part of the membership of your family involvement committee. Does your family involvement committee include diverse families representing the target population that your system of care is serving? Will your family involvement committee involve family organizations and family groups representing your target population? Will your family involvement committee include professionals? How will family members or organizations be recruited? Will there be a set number of members? Who will be able to vote? Will membership be voluntary or will individuals receive compensation? How long will membership last?
3. Discuss how often the family involvement committee will meet and what participant supports will be in place for successful family participation.
4. Discuss the roles and responsibilities of family involvement committee members. Will there be a system of care staff person or governance board member who will take on the responsibility of coordinating the family involvement committee? What responsibilities will members have?

These discussion points support the development of by-laws, guidelines, and job descriptions in relationship to your family involvement committee. Below are samples of State and local family advisory board information and resources that are being implemented across different State and local service systems and agencies.

It is important for the family movement that we work collectively to create and make available a greater number of resources and products that relate to family involvement committees and advisory boards within systems of care. If your family organization has any examples or products that you would like to share related to implementing family involvement committees or family and consumer advisory boards, please forward them to lisaconlan2@aol.com. The TA Partnership is happy to share your product or information as a new resource.

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Related Resources

Involving Families in Policy Group Work
This Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health tip sheet offers guidance for involving family members in the work of mental health policy groups. It provides a definition of “family member,” and briefly describes the context for family involvement in policy group work. It contains strategies for: 1) recruiting family members to join policy groups; 2) training and supporting family members to do the work; and 3) sustaining their participation over time. Click here to view this tip sheet.

Title V Toolbox for Family Participation
This toolbox by Family Voices provides a section on family advisory committee development tools. It includes materials created by states to develop family advisory committees or councils including descriptions, guidelines, by-laws, and information forms. To view this website, visit: http://www.familyvoices.org/toolbox/

Parent Engagement in State Policy and Planning
This document developed by Rhode Island KIDS COUNT shares strategies for engaging and sustaining family involvement in policy and planning work, ensuring cultural competence and describes the various policy and planning bodies in Rhode Island with strong family involvement. Click here to view this resource in its entirety.

Administrative Rules on Agency Designation
A “designated agency” is an agency that is eligible to participate in a local system of care and provide mental health services. These administrative rules governing the selection of designated agencies outline the requirements an agency must meet in order to be designated (or re-designated), the responsibilities of agencies that are designated, and the process for designation, re-designation, and de-designation.

The Vermont Agency of Human Services, Department of Developmental and Mental Health Services enacted the administrative Rules on Agency Designation. These include strong involvement of families and consumers on state and local standing committees in policy and decision-making of designating agencies who participate in local system of care and provide mental health services. The Vermont Federation of Families developed a fact sheet and a training curriculum to support family involvement on the state and local standing committees.
Click here to view the Administrative Rules on Agency Designation.
Click here to view the Vermont Federation of Families fact sheet.