Children’s Mental Health Plan Workgroups

1. Children’s Mental Health Plan Workgroups Kristin Riley, Deputy Director Division of Children and Families December 17, 2007

2. Children’s Mental Health Act Charge: To Develop a comprehensive and visionary long-term plan for children’s mental health and emotional well being

3. Getting Started • Key Considerations • Workgroup Composition • Workgroup Charge • Strategic Planning Tool Timeline • Resources and Technology • Staff Support and Leadership

4. Key Considerations • Statewide Perspective • Developmental Trajectory • Cross Systems Collaboration • Cultural Considerations

5. Statewide Perspective Adolescents living in rural areas have a higher rare of suicide than their urban counterparts (Institute of Medicine, 2002). Policies and programs designed for urban mental health services often are not appropriate for rural mental health services (Beeson et al., 1998).

6. Workgroup Composition • From Long Island to Buffalo • From rural counties to urban boroughs • From state agencies to local governments

7. Developmental Trajectory Delayed access of care for youngsters…not only exposes them to consequences of the disorder but results in deferment of developmental milestones rendering children vulnerable to social, academic and emotional difficulties during the most formative period in a young life (Kessler, 2001). 10-13% of preschoolers (ages 1-6 years old) have emotional/behavioral disorders (New Freedom Commission, 2003).

8. Workgroup Composition • Researchers, Policy Analysts, and providers serving a wide range of ages • Youth representatives and Family members • State/national experts in the field

9. Cross-Systems Collaboration Among all disabilities, emotional disturbance was associated with the highest rate of school dropout (Reimer & Smink, 2005). 54% of those formerly served in foster care had an Axis I diagnosis by the time they reached 24 years of age (Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study, Casey family Programs, 2003).

10. Workgroup Composition • Child-serving state agencies • Local children’s systems representatives • System and policy children’s advocates • Professional organizations

11. Cultural Considerations African American and Latino children have the highest rates of unmet need (Ringel & Sturm, 2001) and are less likely to receive specialty mental health care or medications than the general population seeking these supports (Kelleher, 2000). There is a significantly higher rate of suicide among Native American youth (Institute of Medicine, 2002).

12. Workgroup Composition • Providers serving a wide array of diverse populations • Advocates representing cultural and linguistic needs of children and families • Multicultural representatives from various backgrounds

13. Workgroup Charge • Environmental Scan • Participant Expertise and knowledge • Existing reports and documents • Focused review of literature • Interviews with state/national experts • Completion of Planning Tool • Development of Draft Workgroup Report (written document)

14. Strategic Planning Tool • Developmental Matrix The ways in which we can impact upon a child’s growth varies at each stage of life • Child-Serving Systems Matrix Children and adolescents with social and emotional needs often require services from more than one system

15. Timeline • January 14: Environmental Scan • February 4: Completion of Planning Tool • March 3: Development of Draft Reports • April 16: Stakeholder review and comment

16. Timeline (continued) • June 18: Refinement of draft reports based on stakeholder feedback • August 22: Preparation of Final Report for review by Executive Committee • September 26: Last revision to plan • October 1: Final Plan due to Governor’s Office and Legislature

17. Resources and Technology • Bibliography • Information/Data Collection • Listservs • Go-To-Meeting

18. Staff Support and Leadership Office of Mental Health Central Office Workgroups: Early Intervention and Accountability Support: Division of Children and Families Lead: Meredith Ray-LaBatt Workgroups: Workforce and Social Emotional Support: Office of Planning Lead: Betty Pease