Putting “Family and Children First”

Putting “Family and Children

First”

Statutory Purpose

The purpose of the cabinet council is to help families seeking government services…by streamlining and coordinating existing services for families seeking assistance for their children.

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Communities have many “players” working

individually with youth and families….

We are about bringing the individual players

together so to effectively impact children and

families

OFCF Cabinet Council – Past, Present, Future

History of OFCF Cabinet Council

Then Developed state and

local Interdepartmental Cluster Services for Youth

Cluster focused on multi-system children

From Placement Funding to Community Based Funding

Now OFCF Cabinet and

county FCFCs

Service Coordination focused on multi-need children

Access to Better Care Reclaim

Governor Celeste

Intersystem efforts for multi-system children

1984 - 1991


Then Created OFCF Cabinet and 88

county FCFCs in statute Local decision-making and

input into policy Emphasis on parent

involvement and responsibility

Strong private sector investments on multiple initiatives, including HMG and emphasis on counties being able to access federal and other non-state dollars for services and programs.

Strong emphasis on early childhood and prevention

Funds to develop Service Coordination Mechanism, state pooled funds for county service coordination needs (Cluster $); Family Stability funding

Now OFCF Cabinet and county

FCFCs remain H.B. 289, First Lady visits

FCFC Family Representatives; Family Network Meetings

Lack of private sector investments

HMG; Creation of the Early Childhood Cabinet

Updated SC Mechanism; no funds to support local service coordination needs but instead have ABC and FAST funding

Governor Voinovich

All children will enter school ready to learn.1991-1998


Then Built structure of OFCF with

increased state level positions until 2003 when 12 positions ended

Continued existing initiatives focused on early childhood, prevention, and out of home placement reduction until 2003 when significant funding ended;

Sponsored a model (PfS) to assist counties in planning with an emphasis on child well-being through commitments and indicators

H.B. 289 passed requiring planning and reporting on child well-being based on the success of PfS

Established P-16 Councils and WIA Boards

Became initiative focused, instead of looking at priorities, issues, policies

Now

OFCF Staff of 7 positions remain

Access to Better Care and Help Me Grow initiatives

PfS has developed based on local lessons learned to a community capacity building model with 44 counties

County HB 289 Plans and 1st year Reports

P-16 councils and WIA Boards continue

Becoming priorities, issues, and policy focused again

Governor Taft

Enabling every child to succeed.1999-2006


2007-2008 First Lady chairs OFCF Cabinet

Relationships established through 88 County FCFC Visits by First Lady and OFCF Cabinet Directors

Cabinet studies purpose and value of FCFC

Cabinet’s work being prioritized based on First Lady FCFC Visits’ Challenges and Issues

PfS continues; HB 289 plans and reports submitted by counties; Service Coordination continues, ESCORE for service coordination data collection and analysis; ABC initiative; HMG

Governor Strickland

2007-present

OFCF Cabinet Vision

A community-based seamless system of care for

families and children needing assistance.

OFCF Cabinet Mission

A partnership of state and local government, communities, and families that enhances the well-being of Ohio’s children and families by building community capacity, strategically coordinating systems and services, and engaging and empowering families.

OFCF Cabinet Guiding Principles

1.Families are at the center of service planning and system design.

2.The uniqueness within families and communities is valued and respected.

3.Mutual respect for professional knowledge-base and competencies amongst partners guides decision-making.

4.Services and supports are built on a seamless continuum from prevention through treatment, including points of transition.

5.Decisions regarding service planning and system design are data informed and evidence based.

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OFCF Core Functions

Shared Accountability for

OFCF’s Vision

Coordinate Systems

& Services

Engage and Empower

Families

Build Community

Capacity

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Shared Accountability for

OFCF’s Vision

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Accountability

• Mandates which operationalize FCFC

• Specifies Cabinet Council and 88 local county councils mandated membership and responsibilities

• Outcome Focused

OFCF Cabinet Council Membership

• Governor & Governor’s Office• First Lady, Chair • ODADAS• ODA• OBM• ODE• ODH• ODJFS• ODMH• ODMRDD• ODYS• ODRC

County FCF Council Membership

• County Commissioners

• At least 3 parents not employed by an agency on FCFC

• ADAMH Board or ADAS and CMH Boards

• General Health District

• City Health Department

• CDJFS

• PCSA

• MRDD Board

• Largest school district

• School district representing all other districts

• Largest municipal corporation

• DYS

• Head Start

• Help Me Grow / Early Childhood Collaborative Group

• Non Profit agency

• Others

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Engaging & Empowering Families

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Family Engagement with FCFCs

At least three family representatives are members on FCFCs who:

•are not employed by an agency represented on the council, and

•whose families are or have received services from an agency represented on the council.

Where possible, the number of members representing families shall be equal to 20% of the council’s membership.

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FCFC Roles with Family Engagement

A key role of FCFCs is to ensure ongoing input from a broad representation of families who are receiving services within the county system.

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OFCF’s Family Engagement Efforts

Current efforts to support family engagement include:

OFCF Cabinet Council Advisory Board which requires three family representatives

Biannual regional family network meetings

Training provided on the “Making Room at the Table” curriculum

Exploration of creating a Center or Network for Family Engagement and Empowerment

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Building Community

Capacity

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House Bill 289Achieving Better Outcomes for

ChildrenOFCF Cabinet Council and the 88 FCFCs must plan and annually report progress on improving child well-being that focus on:Expectant parents and newborns thriveInfants and toddlers thriveChildren are ready for schoolChildren and youth succeed in schoolYouth choose healthy behaviorsYouth successfully transition into adulthood

Restoring Prosperity • FCFCs have the capacity

and opportunity structure to assist communities in restoring economic growth and prosperity among its citizens.

• Mobilize citizens, businesses, foundations, and stakeholders around key elements impacting the well-being of a community (schools, public safety, workforce, and physical landscape)

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Coordinating Systems & Services

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FCFC Service Coordination:A Recipe for Success

• Shared philosophy about the way services should be delivered to children and families

• Collaborative infrastructure supported by policy and funding mechanisms

• Services and supports unique to a family-driven plan

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Service Coordination Mechanism

ORC 121.37 (C)What’s in the law?• Each county develops a

county service coordination mechanism.

• The county service coordination mechanism shall serve as the guiding document for coordination of services in the county.

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FCFC Service Coordination

• Each council must have a referral process.

• Families, agency staff and schools must be notified of and invited to all family service coordination plan meetings.

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Families may initiate a family service coordination plan meeting.

Families may invite a family advocate, mentor, or support person to participate in service coordination plan meetings.

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•A family service coordination plan meeting must be conducted for each child receiving service coordination and for whom an emergency out-of-home placement has been made or a non-emergency out-of-home placement is being considered.

•Nothing overrides or affects decisions of a juvenile court regarding an out-of-home placement, long-term placement, or emergency out-of-home placement.

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Family and Children First Councils

Local FCF councils are in a unique position to support the ongoing development of youth by maximizing opportunities to coordinate services which focus on the

youth’s individual strengths and needs.

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The Challenge Developing a process

collaboratively that works in each community.

What We Have Learned from the 88 County FCFC Visits

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health

2. Flexible Funding, including RFPs/grants

3. FCFC Audits

4. Early Childhood, that includes Help Me Grow

5. Medicaid/Managed Care

6. Juvenile Justice/Offender Reentry

7. Kinship Care/Older Adults

8. Education and Employment Issues for Youth Transitioning

9. Autism, Developmental Delays, and Dual Diagnosis

10.FCFC Local Leadership

THANK YOU!!

Ohio Family & Children First

Putting “Family and Children First”

Documents

Transcript of Putting “Family and Children First”