Lessons Learned Quick Links:  [Shared Visions & Principles]  [Leadership]
[Model Implementation of a System-of-Care]  [Families/Youth as Driving Force]
[Effective Structure for Wraparound Coordination]  [Non-Traditional Clinical Practices]
[Ongoing Expansion of the Infrastructure]  [Social Marketing Efforts]
[Further Information]

Westchester County – A Host Learning Community

For the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services
for Children and Their Families Program

Profile of the Westchester Community Network

Lessons Learned/How We Can Help

Shared Vision & Principles – A 10-year History of Working Across Systems
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• Winning Interagency and Family Stakeholder Consensus
• Collectively Articulating the Vision
• Achieving Community Ownership of the Change Process

Leadership
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• Using Leadership Skills and Strategies to Move Vision from Concept to Reality
• Identifying Effective Leaders
• How to Develop and Sustain Leadership

Model Implementation of a System-of-Care
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• Creating an Evolving Oversight Body to Promote System Level Change
• Designing/Sustaining the Infrastructure
• Organizing at the Community Level Within a County/State Structure
• Providing Direct Access to the System-of-Care for Families

Families/Youth As the Driving Force in the Change Process
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• Families/Youth as the Driving Force in Policy Development, Program Planning, Service Delivery, Advocacy, Training and Research
• How to Develop and Sustain a Family Support Movement
• How to Develop and Sustain a Peer Support Movement
• How to Develop, Staff and Run Family Resource Centers

Effective Structure for Wraparound Coordination
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Child and Family Networks in 10 Westchester Communities Serving Over 300 Families Yearly.  Learn How to:

• Create Initial Individualized Wraparound Plan Out of Strength-Based Assessment
• Utilize Resources of the Community – Uniquely Culturally Driven
• Create Ongoing Support Circle to Maintain/Adjust Plan
• Conduct Community Organizational Monthly Meetings
• Use the Family Group Conferencing Model to Enhance Cultural Competency
• Single Point of Entry/Return for Residential Care
• Universal Referral and Centralized Intake for All Intensive Services

Non-Traditional Clinical Practices/Wraparound Designs Used in Westchester:
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• Mobile, Family Driven, Community-Based Care Coordination
• Including Respite and Crisis Components
• Safety Programming (clinical and Case Management) for Youth with Sexually Aggressive/Sexually Reactive Behaviors
• Risk Assessment and Strategic Community Planning for Youth with Fire setting Behavior
• A Network, Clinical Case Management and Peer Support Approach for Young People Aging-Out of the Children's Mental Health System
• Specialized Programming for Families under TANF whose Children Exhibit Serious Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties

Ongoing Expansion of the Infrastructure
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• Cross System Planning Committees in the Areas of:
• Young Children Who Have Entered the Emergency Psychiatric System
• Youngsters with Dual Diagnoses
• Youth Aging-Out of the Children's System
• Youth who Exhibit Sexually Aggressive/Sexually Reactive Behavior
• High Risk Planning Meetings with Child Welfare

Social Marketing Efforts
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• 10 Session Orientation Series for All New Workers
• Strength Based Assessment Training for TANF Workers
• Specialized Training for Those Working with Youth with High Risk Issues: Fire setting, Sexually Aggressive/Reactive Behavior, Victims of Sexual Abuse
• Specialized Training for Supervisors in the System-of-Care
• Parent Skills Training (Conducted solely by Parents)
• Training for Therapeutic Foster Parents Working with Special Populations
• Training for Parents of Youth Aging-Out of the Children's System (Conducted solely by Parents)
• Development of a System-of Care Training Manual
• Website Development
• Video Production

For further information contact:
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Michael Orth
Technical Assistance Coordinator
THE WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY NETWORK
Westchester County DCMH
112 East Post Road
White Plains, New York  10601
PHONE: 914-995-5225
e-mail: mmo6@westchestergov.com