Regional Partnership Grant Program Update AIA/SEN Grantees’ Meeting Ken DeCerchio, MSW. CAP Children and Family Futures

A Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau Office on Child Abuse and Neglect

TEXT PAGE Why Partner ? Needs of families are more complex and require multiple system responses Achieve better outcomes Broaden the base of community support Maximize existing and generate additional resources

Responding to CFSR: Making the Case for Partnerships

The Regional Partnership Grant (RPG) Program Cross-systems partnerships designed to improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children affected by parental substance use

TEXT PAGE Background of the RPG Program Authorized by the Child and Family Services Improvement Act of regional partnership grants awarded by ACF in September 2007 Improve the safety, permanency and well-being of children affected by methamphetamine and other substance abuse Address a variety of common systemic and practice challenges that are barriers to optimal child, adult and family outcomes

Regional Partnership Grants Regional Partnership Grants = 53 Sites Array of Services - 11 Child Focused – 8 Drug Courts – 10 System-Wide Collaboration – 9 Treatment Focused – 9 Tribal - 6

NCSACW IDTA Sites = 20 Sites 16 States (NE & KY Pending) 3 Tribal Communities 1 County 14 OJJDP Sites NCSACW In-Depth Technical Assistance Sites Children’s Bureau Regional Partnership Grants OJJDP Family Drug Courts US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Administration for Children and Families

TEXT PAGE Five Broad Program Strategy Areas ( and selected examples of specific grantee activities) Systems Collaboration and Improvements –Cross-systems training –Cross-systems information-sharing and data collection –Intensive coordinated case management –Family Group Decision Making Substance Abuse Treatment Linkages and Services –Improved substance abuse screening and assessment –Specialized outreach, engagement and retention –Family-centered treatment for parents with children Services for Children and Youth –Early intervention and developmental services –Trauma and other therapeutic services

TEXT PAGE Five Broad Program Strategy Areas (and selected examples of specific grantee activities) Clinical and Community Support Services for Children, Parents and Families –Parenting education and family strengthening programs –Continuing care and recovery support services –Housing, child care, transportation and other ancillary services –Mental health and trauma-specific services Expanded Capacity to Provide Treatment and Services to Families –Implementation of new and/or expansion and enhancement of existing Family Treatment Drug Courts (FTDCs) –Increased number of residential treatment beds for parents –Co-located and out-stationed staff

SYSTEMS CHANGES Organizational and Other Strategies Training Substance Abuse Training/Education for Foster Care Parents Partnership Meetings Regular Program/ Administrative Meetings SYSTEMS CHANGES Organizational and Other Strategies Training Substance Abuse Training/Education for Foster Care Parents Partnership Meetings Regular Program/ Administrative Meetings SYSTEMS COLLABORATION Formal Cross-Systems Policies and Procedures Information Sharing and Data Analysis Increased Service Capacity SYSTEMS COLLABORATION Formal Cross-Systems Policies and Procedures Information Sharing and Data Analysis Increased Service Capacity Initial Program Activities Program Services/Strategies Inputs Outputs Outcomes SHORT TERM C1. Children Remain at Home C2. Occurrence of Maltreatment C3. Length of Stay in Foster Care C7. Prevention of Substance-Exposed Newborns C9. Child Well-Being A1. Access to Treatment A2. Retention in Substance Abuse Treatment A3. Substance Use A5. Employment A6. Criminal Behavior A7. Mental Health Status F1. Parenting F2. Family Relationships/ Functioning F3. Risk/Protective Factors R1. Collaborative Capacity SHORT TERM C1. Children Remain at Home C2. Occurrence of Maltreatment C3. Length of Stay in Foster Care C7. Prevention of Substance-Exposed Newborns C9. Child Well-Being A1. Access to Treatment A2. Retention in Substance Abuse Treatment A3. Substance Use A5. Employment A6. Criminal Behavior A7. Mental Health Status F1. Parenting F2. Family Relationships/ Functioning F3. Risk/Protective Factors R1. Collaborative Capacity LONG TERM C3. Length of Stay in Foster Care C4. Re-entries to Foster Care C5. Timeliness of Reunification C6. Timeliness of Permanency A3. Substance Use A5. Employment A6. Criminal Behavior A7. Mental Health Status R1. Collaborative Capacity LONG TERM C3. Length of Stay in Foster Care C4. Re-entries to Foster Care C5. Timeliness of Reunification C6. Timeliness of Permanency A3. Substance Use A5. Employment A6. Criminal Behavior A7. Mental Health Status R1. Collaborative Capacity

Tools for Partnerships The 10 Elements of System Linkages

TEXT PAGE 10-Element Framework of Systems Linkages Method to organize collaborative activities in specific practice and policy areas –Defines key elements of collaboration –Describes components of an initiative Provides systematic way to assess effectiveness of collaborative work –Assists in measuring their implementation –Helps assess progress in building stronger cross- systems linkages and where those linkages are most effective

Outcomes 10. Shared Outcomes and Systems Reforms System Elements 6. Information Systems7. Training and System Tools8. Budget and Sustainability 9. Working with Other Agencies Children, Family, Tribal, and Community Services 2. Screening and Assessment 3. Engagement and Retention 4. Services for Children 5. Community and Family Support Mission 1. Underlying Values and Priorities Elements of System Linkages The Ten Key Bridges

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Practice and Policy Tools Ten Element Framework – A method to organize collaborative activities in specific practice and policy areas Collaborative Values Inventory – An anonymous way to explore values and beliefs to facilitate the development of common principles using web-based data collection Collaborative Capacity Instrument – An anonymous way to assess the strengths and challenges in each of the areas of system linkages using web-based data collection Matrix of Progress in System Linkages – A practice-based approach that specifies characteristics of advance collaboration practice in the elements of system linkages Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention and Recovery — SAFERR -- A guidebook to develop effective communication across systems while engaging families in services

Early Lessons from the RPG Program Successes and Challenges of Cross-Systems Collaborations (Year Two)

TEXT PAGE Percentage of RPGs Experiencing Greatest Accomplishments and Challenges in Key Collaborative Areas in Year 2

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Values and Principles – Accomplishments Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) identified accomplishments in developing and/or strengthening underlying collaborative values and principles, such as: –Conducted case file review to understand services provided to families and identify ways to improve coordination between substance abuse treatment providers and child welfare –Implemented discharge criteria to ensure a more uniform approach across partners to discharging cases –Developed a cross-systems communication plan to establish consistent language and terminology across systems and a clear message for families –Developed interagency MOU to prioritize services for families involved in child welfare system due to parental substance abuse –Changed culture and focus of the systems from looking solely at the deficits of families to identifying their strengths as well

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Values and Principles – Challenges Yet more than one-third of grantees (38 percent) also experienced challenges in the area of collaborative values and principles, such as: –Involvement of substance abuse agency, child welfare agency, courts or community providers on a case-by-case basis and only when a referral is necessary –Lack of understanding of how the RPG program and partnership fit into the bigger systems picture –Lack of cooperation and involvement of major partners and lack of clear roles and responsibilities among partners –Limited or ineffective communication between RPG staff and dependency and drug court judges and differing beliefs about whether reunification is in the child’s best interest

TEXT PAGE Working with Other Agencies and Building Community Supports – Accomplishments 43 percent of grantees noted advancements in building community supports, while 32 percent experienced successes in working with related agencies –Worked with the housing authority to complete a housing feasibility study that resulted in stronger agency relationships and the provision of Family Unification Program housing vouchers for 100 RPG clients –Increased collaboration with community agencies that led to RPG representation on several community boards and expanded collaboration with partners in a neighboring county –Used parents’ digital stories as a social marketing strategy to facilitate greater community awareness, interest, involvement and support –Established partnerships with local community colleges to provide job training/work readiness programs Accomplishments in these areas are critical to securing additional core and supportive services that clients need to succeed both while in the RPG program and when they are discharged or graduate

TEXT PAGE Working with Other Agencies and Building Community Supports – Challenges Challenges experienced by grantees in working with other agencies and building community supports include: –The need to clarify and better articulate the RPG program model before trying to engage other systems –Overcoming community concerns/skepticism regarding hiring of Family/Peer Mentors who have prior history of substance abuse and child welfare involvement –The RPG lead agency lacking the credibility or recognition needed to engage other State or community agencies

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Relationships – Key Themes/Lessons Collaboration takes time and is developmental and iterative in nature Collaboration needs to occur at multiple levels –Front-line and larger systems levels –State and local levels Importance of oversight and feedback structures (e.g., advisory boards, steering committees) –Provide leadership, direction, problem-solving –Continually review project goals and progress –Address emerging or specific issues

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Relationships – Key Themes/Lessons Fundamentals of successful collaboration and active engagement of partners include: Alignment of project and partner goals Communication of concrete benefits to prospective partners Ability to integrate the collaborative’s work into existing efforts or infrastructures Clarification, understanding and agreement on roles, responsibilities and processes Ongoing communication (all levels), reporting and monitoring –Establishing relationships is an event, maintaining relationships is a process

TEXT PAGE Collaborative Relationships – Key Themes/Lessons Development and strengthening of collaborative relationships is facilitated by: Cross-systems communication on client progress (e.g., joint case staffing or case conferences, team decision making) Cross-systems training on both: –The broad array of clinical issues affecting shared clients –Program and policy issues impacting how each system operates Intensive, targeted and multi-faceted community outreach: –Presentations to partners; convening of community forums –Involvement on other local advisory boards or steering groups –Value of routine and regular in-person contact and dedicated person or position to conduct outreach

TEXT PAGE Sustainability – Themes and Lessons from the RPG Program Key Elements of Sustainability include: Strong collaborative relationships Engaging key stakeholders – in particular, State leadership Promoting awareness of the RPG program and communicating its results/outcomes Linking and aligning RPG program to CFSR and PIP goals Building capacity at the local level (for large-scale, multi-site initiatives) Making sustainability an explicit program objective Having a designated body or structure (e.g., task force, subcommittee) to focus on sustainability DATA

How Do I Access Technical Assistance? Visit the NCSACW website for resources and products at us at Ken DeCerchio