Expanding & Sustaining Systems of Care: New Challenges and Opportunities

1. Expanding & Sustaining Systems of Care: New Challenges and Opportunities Presentation Beaver County (PA) System of Care: Optimizing Resources, Education and Supports

2. BC-SCORES System of CareOverview Focus: Targets youth (10 to 21 y.o.) who may be involved with the legal system, or who are experiencing disciplinary problems in school; and who have a mental health or co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder (COD). Goal: To support a system of care that is youth centered and family driven, community based and culturally competent, that will result in positive outcomes for youth and families.

3. BC-SCORES Overview • Core Elements: • A decision-making and participatory infrastructure involving youth, families, service providers and natural supports. • A comprehensive array of community services and supports available through community-based providers and natural support groups. • An operating philosophy based upon system of care principles and core values. • Sustain the system of care in Beaver County.

4. General Observation Given size and resource constraints, many have limited capacity to sustain their services and support to BC SCORES families and youth over time. Need to strengthen the capabilities of grassroots and faith-based organizations as partners in the System of Care. Common Challenges or Deficits of Small Nonprofit Organizations Inadequate staffing, Weak organizational infrastructure, No formal marketing process, Absence of formal planning Issues Facing Community and Grassroots Organizations

5. BC-SCORES Investment in Capacity-Building -1 • Capacity-building : Purpose To engage participants in a structured process designed to enhance the ability of grass roots and faith-based nonprofits to identify and respond to organizational challenges and increase their effectiveness as partners in SOC. • Methodology A series of two training sessions on a pre-identified set of capacity-building needs, using both didactic and pre-designed group exercises.

6. BC-SCORES Investment in Capacity Building -2Workshop One Capacity Building Training Components: • Marketing • Sustainability • Strategic Planning

7. BC- SCORES Investment in Capacity Building – 3Workshop Two Capacity-Building Training Components: • Proposal Development, Grant Research and Grant Writing • Infrastructure Development • Building Partnerships • Information and Communications Technology

8. Case Study of Interagency Collaboration -1 Initial Action to Respond to Federal RFP • Identification of organizations’ interested in partnering/collaborating in developing a specific federal grant application Grant Writing Training Process • Participants were given instruction on grant writing on each component of grant application (e.g. goals, services, organizational descriptions, budgeting, and evaluation methodology).

9. Case Study of Interagency Collaboration - 2 Outcomes: • A completed and submitted application, which received a favorable review during first stage. • Acquisition of tools and evaluative criteria for what constitutes a successful grant application. • An enhanced appreciation for the benefits of collaboration that draws upon the strengths and resources of each participating organization.

10. Formation of Beaver County Human Services Coalition Rationale: • Need for a formalized collaborative effort on the part of grassroots/faith-based organizations to sustain system of care Organizational Process: • Exploratory Meeting • Compatibility Assessment/ Readiness to Partner • Mission, Vision, and Guiding Principles

11. Formation of Beaver County Human Services Coalition Agreement on Organizational Structure: • Lead Agency Model (i.e., affiliation with existing organization) • Initial Standing Committees Development of Memorandum of Agreement: • Organizational Responsibilities and Rights Work Plan Development: • Infrastructure Development, Policy Issue Development, Fund Development, and Communications

12. Importance of Community Organization Participation in the System of Care Our system of care has helped form linkages between community-based providers • Learn from each other • Refer to each other Community organizations play important roles: • In supporting families and youth • In identifying families in need of formal services through the system of care.

13. Lessons Learned • The Necessity of Providing Monetary Support to Grassroots/Community-Based Organizations • Ongoing Need for Capacity Building • Constraints of Developing Formal Collaborations

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