Ohio Family & Children First Presentation to the ODE Parent Advisory Council March 20, 2012 Angela Sausser Short, Director Ohio Family and Children First

What Will Be Covered  Brief overview of Ohio Family and Children First (OFCF)  Family Engagement Efforts including the Red Treehouse  Youth and Young Adults in Transition Efforts

OFCF - Who We Are A partnership of state and local government, communities, and families that work together to enhance the well-being of Ohio’s children and families by building community capacity, strategically coordinating systems and services, and engaging and empowering families.

OFCF Cabinet Council At the State Level, that partnership is mandated to consist of: Governor’s Office Departments of Aging Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services Budget and Management Developmental Disabilities Education Health Job and Family Services Mental Health Rehabilitation and Correction Youth Services Rehabilitation Services Commission

88 County FCF Councils At the Local Level, that partnership is mandated to consist of: County Commissioners At least 3 parents not employed by an agency on FCFC Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board General Health District City Health Department County Department of Job and Family Services Children Services Developmental Disabilities Board Largest school district & School district representing all other districts Largest municipal corporation Department of Youth Services Head Start Early Childhood Representative Non Profit agency Others

Statutory Purpose Ohio Family and Children First Cabinet Council was created in statute (ORC ) in 1993 with the specific purpose: to help families seeking government services…by streamlining and coordinating existing services for families seeking assistance for their children.

Coordinate Systems & Services Engage & Empower Families Build Community Capacity FCFC Core Functions Shared Accountability

What is “Family Engagement”? Multiple Definitions Depends on who you ask, at what level, for which system, and for what purpose

Family Engagement Levels 1.Family Focused: train, educate, or support parents. Usually system or diagnosis specific and general information for support. Most common level. 2.System Focused: case level assistance in service/treatment planning and supports identification at local level. Advocating for more support for their family and other families. 3.Policy Focused: advocating to the state departments, legislature, and local government for policy changes, system changes, funding.

Family Engagement & Empowerment Research Research revealed Ohio is rich in resources for engaging and support families, but there is a lack of coordination so duplication is occurring. Recommendations focused on: (1) networking parent advocacy resources; (2) improving communication; (3) creating leadership opportunity; (4) improving parent-professional partnerships; (5) increase participation in policy decisions

OFCF Family Engagement Committee Formed in June 2009 by OFCF with membership consisting of parents, state department representatives, parent advocates, state associations, and other key stakeholders. Purpose: To strengthen and enhance family engagement opportunities and resources in Ohio by coordinating efforts across systems and the state.

OFCF Family Engagement Committee 1.Parent Advocacy: Identifying existing parent advocacy supports and trainings and coordinate such resources. Identifying current gaps in parent advocacy supports.  Needs/Resource Assessment  Systems Information for Red Treehouse website  Tips for parents when working with systems  Parent Advocacy Connection and its connection with other parent advocacy groups (trainings, network, sharing resources, etc.)

OFCF Family Engagement Committee 2. Parent/Professional: Identifying existing parent/professional trainings, including family engagement and parent leadership. Connecting parents to such opportunities. Identifying ways for Ohio to strengthen parent & professional partnerships.  Training survey administered & analyzed  Organizations will promote via the Red Treehouse website  Revised the “How Friendly Is Your Agency” checklist  Researching national training curricula for family engagement  Considering a cross-system family engagement conference in future

OFCF Family Engagement Committee 3.Red Treehouse: Created in partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland for families, young adults, and professionals.  Serve as Ohio’s Network for Family Engagement, to help families and professionals promote the well-being of children and young adults, prenatal to age 25.  Actively engage, motivate and empower families  Strengthen parent professional partnerships.  Personalize information retrieval according to location, age of child or young adult, and topic of need or interest.

RedTreehouse.org  Professionals and organizations can: Post events Expand outreach Broaden geographic reach Direct visitors to their websites  Red Treehouse is not an information/referral system, such as a 211.

Red Treehouse Launch Dates LAUNCH SCHEDULE:  Regions 1 & Remainder of 3: February 2012  Regions 8 & 9: April 2012  Regions 7 &10: August 2012  Regions 2 & 6: January 2013  Region 5: April 2013 October 12, 2011 Launched: Cuyahoga & Lorain

Next Steps with Family Engagement  Expand the Red Treehouse website statewide and with more organizations and resources  Increase parent advocacy resources in Ohio  Strengthen parent & professional partnerships in Ohio  Identify, support, and promote policy opportunities for family engagement within state government

OFCF YYAT Steering Committee At the request of the Governor, the Youth and Young Adult in Transition (YYAT) Steering Committee was formed in Sept with youth and young adults, OFCF state agencies, youth advocacy organizations, local organizations and statewide associations Purpose: align and consolidate policies, efforts, and resources; and identify any major service gaps for this particularly vulnerable and often overlooked population.

OFCF YYAT Steering Committee Completed an inventory of existing efforts and investments for YYAT within the 13 state departments Reviewed data for the YYAT population in Ohio and across the country Began strategic planning Identified 5 priority areas for planning

YYAT Steering Committee Strategic Priority #1 Establish a Comprehensive System of Sustainable Resources by Aligning Agencies’ Processes and Policies Strategies include: Formalizing the YYAT Steering Committee Creating a zone of eligibility Increase viable housing options Maintain active inventory of funding for YYAT Create comprehensive transition planning

YYAT Steering Committee Strategic Priority #2 Communication Strategies include: Develop a communication plan –State agencies communication with YYAT –Website for youth to view all available resources, services, & supports available –Develop and implement street card youth teams –Develop street cards for youth

YYAT Steering Committee Strategic Priority #3 Empowering Youth & Families with Tools for Successful Transition Strategies include: Empower youth and families to self advocate Equip youth with necessary skills for living, working, learning independently Create community connections for youth Promote access to higher education/adult training/tech training and employment opportunities

Accomplishments!!! Conducted a resource assessment and identified possible programs to add to the Ohio Benefit Bank Identified assessment policies that need to be revised for youth to better access services Identified other areas where policies need to be changed or modified to improve service delivery to youth Created an unified transition plan that will become available on the Ohio Benefit Bank in April 2012 Conducted a survey that assessed the various youth engagement trainings and Youth Advisory Councils in Ohio Conducted a survey with youth to determine how they prefer to receive communication and information Launched the Red Treehouse for YYAT

Next Steps with YYAT  Continue work with the Training Subcommittee that is focused on establishing core competencies and standards for Youth Advisory Board  Continue work with the Eligibility Subcommittee to upload the final YYAT Universal Transition Plan to the Ohio Benefit Bank and request all state agencies to adopt the plan  Merge the Communication Subcommittee with the ODMH SAMHSA System of Care Grant, ENGAGE, focused on YYAT  Continue developing a more comprehensive and achievable plan for the state to improve services and supports to YYAT through the ENGAGE Planning Process

Contact: Angela Sausser Short, Ohio Family and Children First P: F: || ODMH System of Care Grant from SAMHSA (Oct 2011 – Sept 2012)

ENGAGE’s Target Population Youth and young adults in transition, ages 14 – 21 years, with serious emotional disturbances or serious mental illnesses, including co-occurring disorders, and multi-system needs*. *Multi-system means one or more of the following needs that may include, but is not limited to, ◦ Developmental Disabilities ◦ Education and Higher Education ◦ Child Welfare ◦ Juvenile / Criminal Justice ◦ Substance Abuse ◦ Primary Health Care ◦ Housing ◦ Social Services ◦ Vocational Counseling and Rehabilitation ◦ WIA, employment services

ENGAGE’s Purpose To develop a statewide system of care framework that coordinates and adapts policy, fiscal and administrative actions to support the transition of Ohio’s youth and young adults to adulthood.

What is a System of Care? A spectrum of effective, community-based services and supports for children and youth with mental health challenges, and their families, that is: Coordinated Built on meaningful partnerships with families and youth; Addresses cultural and linguistic needs to help them function better at home, in school, at work, in the community, and throughout life.

ENGAGE’s Purpose To develop a statewide system of care framework that coordinates and adapts policy, fiscal and administrative actions to support the transition of Ohio’s youth and young adults to adulthood.

ENGAGE’s Purpose To develop a statewide system of care framework that coordinates and adapts policy, fiscal and administrative actions to support the transition of Ohio’s youth and young adults to adulthood.

System of Care Approach

ENGAGE Proposed Goals voices of YYAT and families 1.Foster the voices of YYAT and families in SOC expansion and as it pertains to the needs of the target population. services along the prevention, treatment, resiliency and recovery 2.Enhance the availability of quality services along the prevention, treatment, resiliency and recovery continuum and pursue the integration of physical and behavioral health services for YYAT. supportive services 3.Strengthen the availability of appropriate supportive services and psychosocial education for YYAT and their families.

ENGAGE Proposed Goals workforce development services 4.Expand the availability of workforce development services for YYAT. intersystem coordination 5.Improve intersystem coordination and recommend appropriate governance structure(s) (if applicable) for statewide SOC expansion focused on YYAT. social marketing 6.Generate support for statewide SOC expansion focused on YYAT (social marketing).

Draft Future Outcomes Direct Impact for YYAT Direct Impact for Families/Caregivers Direct Impact for System Improved functioning Increased strengths Fewer suicide attempts Improved school performance Reduced contacts with law enforcement Less reliance on inpatient care More stable living situations Reduced strain Fewer missed days of work Improved family functioning Increased effectiveness of services Reduced need for expensive, high-end services (inpatient & residential) Re-investment in home and community- based services & supports

Key Issues Rising to the Top state financial policies Consider state financial policies to incentivize SOC for YYAT, i.e. flexibility with funding, Medicaid Access to data Access to data to understand the YYAT population’s service utilization and information sharing protocols cross-system youth driven board/council Establish a cross-system youth driven board/council inconsistency of eligibility Address inconsistency of eligibility for YYAT access to services single point of contact Establish single point of contact for YYAT support services Increase support services for YYAT (respite, mentors) viable housing options Increase viable housing options for YYAT

Thank You!! For more information about OFCF and our current efforts, contact: Angela Sausser Short OFCF Director & ENGAGE Project Director (614)