1. Children's System of Care
Hudson County Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council (CIACC) plans and advises the county and New Jersey Department of Children and Families Children's System of Care regarding children, youth and young adults with serious emotional, behavioral, mental and intellectual developmental challenges to maintain our children at home, in school, and in the community.

2. Current System of Screening Students
Children's System of Care
Current System of Screening Students
Youth presents with behavior
Youth screened immediately at PES
threats
Youth suspended until screened at PES
danger to self
danger to others
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
Benefits:
Drawbacks:
Screened for safety
Screened for safety
Referral to services
Referral to services
Undue burden on family
Undue burden on family
Long wait
Changes youth’s school experience
Inappropriate environment
Lost time in school
High cost
Screened long after event
Intense reaction to situation
Punishes youth for BH issues
Current System of Screening Students

3. Proposed Model to Screen Youth in Schools
Children's System of Care
Proposed Model to Screen Youth in Schools
Youth presents with behavior
threat to self or others
mood change
change in functioning
Response determined by age and risk factors
Regardless of age, youth at high risk for harming self or others referred to PES
Proposed Model to Screen Students

4. Children's System of Care
In 2014, a C.I.A.C.C. subcommittee was formed to examine school response to non-life threatening crisis incidents among students. It was determined that a number of Hudson County school districts use the emergency room frequently during these situations, particularly to receive “clearance” or documentation indicating that a student may safely return to school.  

6. Children's System of Care
If student has harmed him/herself or others call the parent and 911. This type of situation will require psychiatric assessment and in some cases, hospitalization. If possible, the parent accompanying the child to the hospital should be provided with a general consent form (sample included) to complete so that the hospital may collect relevant information from the school, if necessary.

7. Children's System of Care
The Hudson County CIACC School Crisis Response Subcommittee suggests that schools consider the use of community-based resources in place of the ER in response to non-dangerous youth crisis scenarios. Utilizing the services outlined below can help prevent the negative consequences of a visit to the ER, including the exacerbation of a child’s already emotional vulnerable state and unnecessary financial burden to the school district.
Children’s System of Care

8. Service Pathways Appropriate for Youth
Children's System of Care
Scenario
Service Pathways Appropriate for Youth
Pediatrician
Psychiatrist
JCMC Mobile Crisis
CSA
Private BH Provider
MRSS
Step 1: Identify Concern

9. Scenario Youth needs services
Children's System of Care
Scenario
Youth needs services
and
and/or
suggest that youth may be at risk of significant emotional distress or of causing harm to self or others
Youth’s behavior within the last 3 months or less
Youth’s disclosure of information
The disruption in youth’s behavior has consistently interfered with
Youth’s ability to learn
and has affected
Youth’s relationships
with peers and/or staff

10. Children's System of Care
Adding community-based resources to existing plans will help to ensure that immediate needs for services are met quickly. Reducing delays in service delivery will diminish the unnecessary interruption of school attendance and eliminate the unintended effect of punishing youth and their families for behavioral health needs.

11. Mobile Response & Stabilization Services
Children's System of Care
Available Options
PES
Pediatrician
Private BH Provider
Psychiatrist
CSA
Information
and
Referral
Community
Assessment
Mobile Response & Stabilization Services

12. Sample Documents BEST PRACTICE: PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER
Children's System of Care
Sample Documents
BEST PRACTICE: PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTER
BEST PRACTICE: RE-ADMISSION AUTHORIZATION
BEST PRACTICE: GENERAL CONSENT FORM

13. Many high school-aged youth can participate in this discussion
Children's System of Care
After a concern is identified at any level, the family and school personnel collaborate on an action plan
Sit down with the family
Develop an action plan
Develop a plan for follow up
Many high school-aged youth can participate in this discussion

14. Benefits of New Screening Model
Children's System of Care
Benefits of New Screening Model
Reduces lost education time
Ensures youth is linked to appropriate services
Eliminates unintended effect of punishing youth for BH needs
Components Necessary for Successful Implementation
Working relationship between school and screening and service providers
Working relationship with families
Acceptance of new model to satisfy “zero tolerance” policies

15. Please feel free to contact the County
Children's System of Care
We look forward to partnering with you to meet the behavioral health needs of your students
Please feel free to contact the County
Children’s Inter Agency Coordinating Council
Contact Person:
Samantha Moore
Phone Number:
ext. 4241
Address: