Planning for A Single Point of Access For Families One Stop Family Support and Resource Center Baltimore, Maryland

BACKGROUND Increasing numbers of Maryland children with complex special needs were being placed in custody of state agencies to access needed services In response, HB 1386 was passed in 2003, which required that all Maryland counties develop a plan for a single point of access to services (by 6/05)

BACKGROUND cont.. Baltimore City, with the largest # of children with intense needs, was selected as the pilot project site for the ”Local Access Mechanism”. The Maryland Governor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families received a Family Support 360 planning grant from The Administration on Developmental Disabilities to design a model One Stop Center for families who have a child with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, or other “intensive needs”.

Baltimore City at a glance 651,154 residents ;161,353 are children under 18* 80% (128,435) of those under age 18 are minorities.* 31% of children are living in poverty.* 15,313 children had a disability qualifying for special education services as of 10/1/04. 19,541 children and youth received mental health services via the public mental health system in 2003 Diverse communities- 80% are minority (primarily African-American; also Latino, Orthodox Jewish and Asian) * 2003 U.S. Census Report

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The Family League of Baltimore City was selected to implement the ADD grant- to develop a “One Stop” Family Support and Resource Center in Baltimore City to provide: Information and referral to families Targeted assistance to 50 families of children with intensive needs per year A “family-centered” culturally competent approach

Who is at the planning table? Key considerations in establishing:  Parents from community –essential!  Identifying the other key stakeholders- Local public child agencies-Dept of Social Services, schools, Developmental Disabilities Administration, Juvenile Services, children’s public mental health agency Family organizations Providers  Mental health and developmental disability sectors both represented  Cultural diversity reflecting Baltimore’s demographics

DEVELOPING THE “PLAN” Family – Centered in approach Outcomes that are measurable Meaningful parent leadership Cultural Competence Families hold the key to their success GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND CORE VALUES

KEY QUES:WHAT DO FAMILIES & YOUTH WANT ? Focus groups held with Baltimore City parents from diverse cultural backgrounds Parent organizations- Families Involved Together, Parents Place of Maryland and Center for Jewish Education hosted groups Focus group with youth – hosted by Maryland Association of Resources For Youth (MARFY)

Services the Center Offers Information for families about: Disability or mental health -related Service providers Resources Advocacy/legal organ Public agencies Family support Assistance with linking to services Highly individualized family-centered plans (for “target group” of families)

Family Navigator Key component-paid staff of the One Stop Center who : Assist in developing family-centered plans Assist families w/ accessing services Are liaison to interagency team Act as advocate in implementing plan Model to empower parents/families Provide periodic follow-up Are all parents of a child w/disabilities or mental health needs; most from the City.

INTERAGENCY Child- serving public agency partners: Dept Social Services Juvenile Services City school system Developmental Disabilities Admin Resolve problems accessing services Assist w/ applications Resource for staff Referral source MOUs developed with agencies for on- site staffing & support.

QUALITY ASSURANCE Success of project : Family satisfaction surveys Parent steering committee to oversee Outcome indicators (remained in home; stable in community, etc..)

Reaching “the community”- A recent example A project partner-Md Disability Law Center invites us to attend a meeting of a new Faith- based initiative in a West Baltimore neighborhood- Upton 26.2% of the homes are vacant 40% have less than a high school education 48% of adults are not in the workforce Median household income is less than half the national median income Almost 50% of high school students miss more than 20 days of school during year

Upton’s Community Assets Informal support systems Active large churches Neighborhood organizations Health clinics Social service providers Head start programs Concerned citizens

Faith-Community Partnership- some outcomes Working with large church (1,000 members) to obtain TA for its summer program to successfully include children with mental health/behavioral issues Grandmother who is primary caregiver for 5 year old with developmental delays is linked to us from the church’s Ass’t Pastor. All the participating churches will distribute the center’s brochures Planning a series of workshops for parents with local NAMI in that community

KEY FINDINGS

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PLANNING PROCESS

WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED Determined key gaps/barriers to services & supports Partnerships developed across service systems- MH and DD Strong stakeholder commitment to project Shared vision of family one stop center

PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOPED Parents & systems of care agencies Non profit advocacy & public agencies Cross-system: mental health & developmental disability systems Parents of children with MH issues & of children with DD. Child welfare agencies & MH/DD agencies Faith community School based mental health University of Md Center for mental health

Lack of data on kids with “intensive needs” Recruiting more parents and Latino members Lack of universal application/screening School system in crisis Prioritizing needs Existing silos in system CHALLENGES

LESSONS LEARNED Need participation from high-level agency staff to obtain commitments Engage consultants sooner in developing needed tools Learn from others’ challenges/ barriers

Baltimore Families First Phone information and support line Linkage & support for families w/children w/complex needs Inter agency team approach