WrapCT Presents: CHANGING AGENCY CULTURE: BEST PRACTICE

1. WrapCTPresents:CHANGING AGENCY CULTURE: BEST PRACTICE

2. First Big Idea Just because you have some values doesn’t mean you are of value to families Pat Miles

3. Unconditional Care Strengths Community Based Normalization System Integration Cultural Competency Collaboration Family Centered Refinancing Needs Driven Wraparound: A Cluster of Technologies Technology Cluster

4. Putting Values into Action Exercise

5. Maintaining strengths-based conversation and documentation Knowing how to reframe in a meaningful way Encouraging creative resource development Promoting a strength-based culture of service delivery Building on Strengths

6. Identifying needs of your local communities Listening for needs rather than problems or deficits Developing and implementing plans that are needs driven rather than service driven Avoid prescribing solutions that are deficit driven Needs Driven

7. Agencies are welcoming to families Staff uses family friendly language Respect for privacy – information is shared on a need to know basis Meetings are not held without children and families present Brochures & documents are reviewed by family members before distribution Family Centered

8. Money flows to support what families really need Agencies are imbedded into the communities where families live, i.e. are accessible Operating hours of business and meetings are responsive to families schedules Community Based Responsiveness

9. Commitment to family cohesion in a safe environment Natural/informal supports are embraced in a real way Prevention of institutional placement Permanency for children is paramount Care for Children in Context of Families

10. Systems and agencies are not permitted to kick kids and families out Blame the plan not the family Hold everyone accountable for follow-through Remain outcome driven Never Give UpUnconditional Care

11. Family norms/family culture are recognized as important for success Awareness and education around the stigma of mental health Promoting youth and family events not just “support” groups Avoid duplication or overutilization of formal services Normalization

12. Agency diversity, hiring practices, policies and training Open dialogue regarding differences is embraced All committees, training, events have family membership and participation All planning is individualized to account for each family’s culture Cultural Competency

13. Are the right parties at the table? Is everyone participating? Is everyone held accountable for their part? Is one plan established to account for all systems? Are resources being shared? Are agencies working together to meet the needs of a common community? CollaborationSystem Integration

14. Use of Multiple Resources Creative and Responsible Use of Flex Funds Think Sustainability Refinancing

15. Evaluating Agency Practice Exercise Mary Jo Meyers consultmjm@hotmail.com ChangingAgencyCulture 2009

16. Second Big Idea Holding meetings to discuss plans for youth and families without them present is like building a bridge to nowhere MJ Meyers

17. The child and family identify a group of people who will work with them and help prepare the plan of care. Composed of informal and formal members who will continue to support the family after leaving the program. The Child and Family Team should meet as frequently as needed (at least once a month). What is a Child and Family Team

18. 50/50 – Balanced Team within 3 months 20/80 – Formal/Informal 6 months and beyond Best Practice Bench Marks

19. Third Big Idea Just because you have it, it doesn’t mean children and families need it MJ Meyers

20. Assess Problems Look at Services that are Available… Plug Services into the Family Categorical Approach

21. Services reflect what’s available and has been tried rather than what’s really needed Examples of a Categorical Approach

22. Barriers & Solutions Exercise Mary Jo Meyers consultmjm@hotmail.com ChangingAgencyCulture 2009

23. Don’t do it unless it holds meaning for families Keep the excitement going Keep your eye on the ball; vigilance is a must Establish meaningful QA/QI procedures Lead by example Celebrate your successes Never give up – families deserve your best! Lessons Learned

24. WrapCTLearning CollaborativeOur vision as a statewide learning collaborative is that all children, youth, and families are able and capable of achieving optimal levels of functioning at home, in the community, at school and/or work. WrapCT Steering Team • Jan Bendall, Rushford; Ray Bieber, Child & Family Guidance; Tim Bowles, SEMHSOC; Jill Coffin , U CF S; Dorothy Contrastano, FAVOR; Tim Cunningham, Wellpath; Paloma Dee, NAMI, CT; Nicole DeRobertis, MFCGC; Hal Gibber, FAVOR; Victor Gonzalez, Wheeler Clinic-Hrtfd; Gabrielle Hall, Clifford Beers; Mary Held, Waterbury FFP; Katy Keegan, West Haven – Bridges; Virginia Lopez, Child & Family Guidance; Tim Marshall, DCF; Tabor Napiello, Wheeler Clinic-Plainville; Kristen Penta, Bridgeport Schools; Mark Plourd, Wheeler Clinic-Hrtfd, Cheryl Tedesco, Child & Family Guidance; Paige Trevethan, Bridges; National Consultants: Verneesha Banks, Wraparound Milwaukee; Mark Horwitz, Westfield State Univ.; Mary Jo Meyers, Wraparound Milwaukee Contact information for WrapCT: Tim Marshall 860-550-6531; tim.marshall@ct.gov Contact for training material: Mary Jo Meyers 414-251-7521; consultmjm@hotmail.com