Accessing Services for Youth with Developmental Disabilities through the Children’s System of Care Clarence Whittaker Manager, Community Services Children’s System of Care (609)

22 Children’s System of Care (formerly DCBHS) Division of Protection & Permanency (formerly DYFS) Division of Family & Community Partnerships (formerly DPCP) Office of Adolescent Services New Jersey Department of Children and Families Commissioner NJ Department of Children and Families Division on Women

3 DCF’s Division of Children's System of Care (CSOC) serves children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral health care challenges and their families; and children with developmental disabilities. CSOC is committed to providing these services based on the needs of the child and family in a family-centered, community-based environment. CSOC Mission

4 Children’s System of Care Values and Principles Strengths Based Child Centered & Family Driven Community Based Culturally Competent Family Involvement Needs Driven Individualized Accountable Flexible Collaborative Unconditional Care Home, School & Community Based Promoting Independence Team Based Comprehensive Accessible Cost Effective Outcome Based VALUES:

55 At Home In School In the Community (with their families and not in out-of-home treatment settings) (in their regular school in their school district) ( and not involved with the Juvenile Justice System or at risk of detention or incarceration) Children’s System of Care Objectives We want to keep kids…

66 Key Components PerformCare is the Contracted Systems Administrator for CSOC - Single portal for access to care Intensive care management utilizing a Wraparound model of care serving youth with complex needs & their families Linkage for youth with moderate needs, assist youth discharged from CCISs (inpatient hospitals), complete 14-day plans Family-led support for CMO & UCM involved families, community education, warm lines, advocacy Crisis planning for youth with behavioral/emotional needs, available 24/7/365 CSA CMO YCM FSO MRSS UCM A unified care management service consolidating CMO and YCM to improve care coordination and bring the Wraparound model to both levels of care management.

77 The vision of CSOC is to create positive outcomes for children with emotional and behavioral needs by: The Role of Assessment within CSOC Assessment Tools Child and Family Needs Appropriate Intensity of Service Appropriate Services Appropriate Length of Stay Positive Outcomes Identifying the child and family’s needs Determining the most appropriate Intensity of Service Delivering the most appropriate services for the most appropriate length of time Using standard assessment tools – the foundation of the Children’s System of Care.

8 Single point of access for youth into the Children’s System of Care Authorizes services, based on the most recent clinical information that is submitted Does not provide direct services Anyone may contact PerformCare on behalf of a youth in need of a referral. However, parent/legal guardian of youth must give consent for services CSA responsibilities include: Providing 24-hour/day, 7 days/week availability Coordinating access to services for all eligible youth Helping youth obtain any necessary specialized behavioral health services Supporting the CSOC goals of promoting best practices and assisting the state in assuring compliance with state and federal guidelines Offering complaint, reconsideration, and appeal processes PerformCare is Contracted Systems Administrator (CSA) for CSOC

9 Treatment Options In Community Outpatient – individual, group and family Partial Care Partial Hospitalization Intensive In Home – IIC Behavioral Assistance Mobile Response & Stabilization Services Out of Home Treatment* Treatment Home Group Home Residential Treatment Specialty Program Psych Community Residence Intensive Residential Treatment Services CCIS / Inpatient Hospital * Intensity of Service is the level of OOH treatment based on intensity, frequency, and duration of treatment.

10 The Way Forward Becoming a Comprehensive Child and Family Service Agency

11 Division of Children’s System of Care

12 Children’s System of Care Reasons for Restructuring Synchronized service coordination; elimination of duplicated services Support sustainable communities and balanced resource coordination Proposed integration of children and family-related services housed in other State Departments Selected services that further current progress and achievement of strategic objectives of the DCF

13 children with Supporting children with developmental disabilities As of July 1, 2012, residential services transitioned to the DCF Children’s System of Care In January 2013, the Children’s System of Care assumes greater responsibility for serving youth with developmental disabilities Determining eligibility for developmental disability services Authorizing and providing residential services Authorizing and providing family support services Children’s System of Care

14 Oversight of Youth with Developmental Disabilities Below age 21 – DCF-Children’s System of Care Age 21 and older – DHS-DDD Opportunity for meaningful and coordinated transition planning and seamless transition into adult services prior to 21 st birthday Children’s System of Care

15 A Work in Progress Building a continuum of care Case management Residential programs In-home support services Family support services Outpatient programs Everyone’s patience is greatly appreciated Children’s System of Care

What Families Should Know No disruption of current services due to transition Education entitlement still a critical resource Services for developmentally disabled youth will not be markedly expanded under CSOC in the short term Single point of access for disability and mental health services PerformCare (877)

17 Who to Contact for Services for Children under age 21 with Developmental Disabilities DDD eligibility Contact DDD until January 2013 to apply for DDD services at (800) Residential Services If family has received formal notice that child has a new CSOC case manager, contact CSOC at (609) DDD Family Support Services Contact DDD Regional Offices until January 2013 Beginning January 1, 2013, families with children under age 21 should contact PerformCare at (877) regarding eligibility, as well as residential and family support services Children’s System of Care

18 Children’s System of Care 1 For more information DCF website: PerformCare Member Services:

19 Thank you