Welfare Watch - June 15, 2010 - Multi-systemic Approaches to Care

Georgia has toyed with a multi-systemic approach to care for children that touches several systems within Georgia.  It is not unusual, and probably likely, that a child who comes into either the Juvenile Justice system or the Child Protective Service system will be touched by several systems.  For example, the likelihood is strong that the child who enters Georgia's Juvenile Justice system will have a mental health diagnosis--we know from Georgia's own research that more than 65% of these children have a diagnosable mental health issue.  These children will have their mental health services delivered either through the Department of Community Health or even through the school system and the Department of Education.  There will be a strong likelihood that this child will have experience in the Department of Human Services as a victim of neglect or abuse. 

Each of these systems will touch this child with some type of case management.  This duplication of effort costs money, increases the aggravation for the families involved, decreases providers' ability to prevent "bad things from happening to children," and is very ineffective. 

Georgia has implemented through the Governor's Office of Children and Families and through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities pilots for the "Systems of Care" model philosophy. "Systems of Care" is a family centered model that believes in collaboration from all who touch children both within government and outside.  Natural supports are emphasized. 

These pilots are local pilots.  Real traction for real reform will happen when "Systems of Care" can be institutionalized in Georgia.  For this to happen, an integrated approach to the care of children will have to be coordinated through the Governor's Office.  Participation will have to be mandated.  Real outcomes will have to be tracked through some type of integrated data system.  DHS presently has three data systems that track data.  DBHDD, DOE and DCH have at least one system each.  None of these systems "talk" to each other and maintaining them by those who enter the information is expensive, time consuming and nonproductive.  Data systems need to be tied to the outcomes that we desire for the children and families that we serve. 

Georgia is not the only state that is looking at integrated systems of care.  The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University‘s Public Policy Institute has announced recently the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Private Sector Leaders. This program is a good start from the national level but this too needs to be broader to encompass all those who serve children and families in some capacity. 

When we have this integrated system, we will be better able to enable families to serve their children effectively and enhance outcomes for children. 

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Welfare Watch, an email newsletter of the
Georgia Association of Homes
and Services for Children
as a public service.
http://www.gahsc.org
Normer Adams, Editor
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