The New York City Experience: Working Toward Better Family Outcomes NCSACW Annual Conference July 14-15, 2004 Lisa Lite-Rottmann, Regional Coordinator, NYS OASAS Lureen McNeil, Program Manager & Liaison to ACS, NYS OASAS Monette Sachs, Ph.D., Substance Abuse Policy Researcher, NYC ACS

SA System Capacity /1174 treatment providers in NYS 165/480 treatment providers in NYC 428,860/206,003 persons served 153,593 males - 52,410 females 56,295 report no children 89,372 report 1 or more children 116,247 not LWC 29,420 LWC

CW System Capacity in NYC Preventive Agencies 47 Foster Care Agencies 32 Family Rehabilitation Programs 6 Direct Foster Care 15,580 families received preventive services 14,508 received foster care services

How We Got Here From There Driving Forces –Adoption and Safe Families Act – New York –Impact of Substance Abuse on Child Welfare –Substance Abuse Clients’ Unmet Needs

The Collaboration Process Development –Phase I Defining the players Power and control –Phase II Building relationships Building consensus

The Collaboration Process Implementation –Operational Protocol Dissemination –Cross-Systems Training –Market Research

Collaboration Outcomes Collaboration Documents - Principles of Collaboration -Partnership Pledge -Protocol -Confidentiality Form -Referral Forms -Change of Case Status Form

Collaboration Outcomes Con’t Ongoing Cross-Systems Training Improved Relationships Improved Practices Evaluation

Where We Are Policy and Practice Initiative Clinical Consultation Initiative Adolescent Services Collaborative Partnerships Evaluation-Protocol Implementation Ongoing Training & Joint TA

Lessons Learned Development & Implementation Why are we here – shared goals Buy-in meetings Commitment to the “process” Get to know one another Establish needs and expectations Develop framework for collaboration

Lessons Learned Con’t Trust, respect and commonalities Internalize blended perspective Quality improvement Outreach to existing coalitions Awareness of local politics Needs assessment surveys Focus groups with professionals

Lessons Learned Con’t Local expert advisory committee Flexibility is key Know your stakeholders Dedicated, strong leadership Listen to stakeholders Don’t assume!

Understanding the Protocol Section I: Referral Process Section II: Communication among Child Welfare Case Manager, Case Planner and Substance Abuse Provider