# Presentation: 531982

## Systems of Care Work for Health Care

**Systems of Care Work ****for**** ****Health Care**

**How to Use**
**This Customizable PowerPoint Presentation**

## Overview

- This customizable PowerPoint presentation was designed for use by systems of care to introduce themselves and the concept of systems of care to child-, youth-, and family-serving partners.
- This presentation is copyright free and is completely customizable. Users can alter this presentation in any way, including, but not limited to: information and data, design, slide order, and sample script.
- Information about systems of care can be found at *www.systemsofcare.samhsa.gov.*
- Information about how to use PowerPoint can be found at *www.office.microsoft.com.*

## About This Presentation

- This customizable PowerPoint presentation was developed for Federal system of care communities by the Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health Campaign of the Center for Mental Health Services within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Content was developed in partnership with local systems of care, systems of care partners, the Technical Assistance Partnership, and the National Evaluation Team. These individuals contributed information, substantive review, and feedback.
- Questions about this PowerPoint presentation should be directed to your social marketing technical assistance provider.

## Using Data

- The data in this presentation are from a variety of sources. Citations have been provided in the notes section. If you want to include the citation in the slide, cut and paste it from the notes section.
- Users are encouraged to update or modify the data as is appropriate and necessary. The Campaign highly recommends using data from credible sources and having citations available to members of the audience.

- The Goals of the PowerPoint Series

- 	The goals of these PowerPoint presentations are:
- Increase awareness of mental health needs and services for children and youth among mental health providers, CMHI communities, intermediary group/organizations, and the public;
- Build capacity within CMHI communities to sustain services and support to children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances and their families;
- Reduce the stigma associated with mental illness;
- Increase the likelihood that children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances and their families are appropriately served and treated; and
- Demonstrate that the needs of children and youth with serious emotional and behavioral disturbances and their families are best met through utilization of systems of care.
- 	This series of PowerPoint presentations was developed at the request of numerous systems of care communities who recognized the need for an easy-to-use presentation tool to support  local partnership development for systems of care.

## Inserting Local Information

- This presentation can be enhanced substantially by including local data and a case study from your system of care. Conduct your presentations with and about the youth and families in your communities whenever possible. Their stories are the best way to illustrate the benefits of your system of care to decisionmakers, opinion leaders, and potential partners.
- Template slides have been included for you to add this information. If local information is not available, these slides can be deleted.

## Using the Sample Script

- A sample script has been included in the notes section to help users understand how the slides work together and to provide a basis for a presentation.
- The sample script is only a suggestion. Users are encouraged to modify it to meet their needs or to develop their own.

## Modifying the Design

- The slides have been designed so they are consistent with the Campaign’s look and feel. Here are some of the ways you can customize the design:
- -	Logos can be added to the upper right hand corner of 	some slides.
- -	Citations can be included in the long horizontal box at 	the bottom of most slides.
- -	The bottom right section of most slides is reserved for the 	presentation’s name, slide number, or any other 	information you want to add.
- -	The name of the presentation can be changed on each 	slide.
- System of care communities may want to use slide layouts that more closely reflect their materials. Users are encouraged to cut and paste information from these slides into their own designs.

## Logo Guidelines

- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has rules regarding the use of its logos and other identifying marks. Generally speaking, users are encouraged to use their own logos and identifying marks, as they are not officially representing the Campaign, the Center for Mental Health Services, or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- For more information on whether or not a SAMHSA, CMHS, or Campaign logo can be used in your presentation, please contact your social marketing technical assistance provider.

## Systems of Care Work for Health Care

**Systems of Care Work ****for**** ****Health Care**

**PRESENTED BY:**
- [Your Name and Title]
- [Your System of Care Community’s Name]
- [Your Contact Information]

- [Your LOGO]

**Notes:**
My name is (name), and I represent the (name and location of system of care community). I’m happy to talk to you today about how systems of care for children’s mental health and (name of local SOC program) can help all of you in the health care profession achieve your goals for the children, youth, and families you serve. I hope that my presentation today can serve as a springboard for a discussion about ways that we can work together to help children and youth with mental health needs and their families.

## Prevention of disease and injury
Promotion of healthy behaviors
Help for the sick and hurt
Accessible health services for all Americans

- Prevention of disease and injury
- Promotion of healthy behaviors
- Help for the sick and hurt
- Accessible health services for all Americans

**Systems of Care and Health ****Care Providers Share Common Goals**

**Notes:**
Let’s start by talking about what all of us have in common. As health care providers and children’s mental health advocates, we share goals for the families and communities that we serve. Ultimately, we want children and youth in our communities to be healthy. We, ourselves, want to help those who are sick, injured, or otherwise in need of care. And we want to do our best to ensure that children and families can actually get the most appropriate care when and where they need it.

## Meeting the mental health needs of children and youth is important for achieving these goals.

**Systems of Care Work ****for ****Health Care**

- [Your LOGO]

**Meeting the mental health needs of children and youth is important for achieving these goals.**

**Notes:**
Every community wants its children and youth to be healthy, but the fact is that some are not. And you know better than I do that there are a lot of reasons why children and youth fail to reach their full potential and need to seek services and support from health care providers. Unmet mental health needs are often part of those reasons.

## 1 in 5 children have a mental health challenge, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health.
Only half receive services they need.
Gaps in the mental health service delivery system suggest alternatives for identification and treatment.

- 1 in 5 children have a mental health challenge, according to the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health.
- Only half receive services they need.
- Gaps in the mental health service delivery system suggest alternatives for identification and treatment.

**Facts About Children’s ****Mental Health**

**Notes:**
In fact, as many as 6 students in a classroom of 30 may be experiencing a mental health challenge and as many as two students in that classroom may be experiencing a mental health challenge that makes them unable to function. And I should mention here that while mental health problems are real and legally recognized, they are often hard to detect right away because most children and youth with mental health problems do not seem to be any different from other kids based on looks. But looks are deceiving, and the earlier children with serious mental health needs get help, the better off they are. 

Unfortunately, our public health systems are not adequately serving those who are seeking care. The President’s New Freedom Commission for Mental Health has identified major disparities in the delivery of mental health services for all Americans, including children and youth. When children and youth have unmet mental health needs, they are less able to function at school, at home, and in the community. Studies have shown that children and youth with unmet mental health needs are at greater risk for suicide, hospitalization, and substance abuse problems, even into adulthood.*

This is significant, especially when we know that it does not have to be this way. National evaluation data show that children and youth enrolled in systems of care improve in their functioning at school, at home, and in the community. 
*Source: 
Weissman, M., Wolk, S., Goldstein, R., et al. “Depressed Adolescents Grown Up.” Journal of the American Medical Association, 281 (1999): 1701-13.

## Mental Health Is Important to Overall Health

**Mental Health Is Important to Overall Health**

- Back pain
- Change in appetite
- Chest pain
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Dry mouth
- Extreme tiredness
- General aches and pains
- Headaches
- High blood pressure

- Insomnia
- Lightheadedness
- Palpitations
- Sexual problems
- Shortness of breath
- Stiff neck
- Sweating
- Upset stomach
- Weight gain or loss

**Physical signs of mental health problems:**

*Source: American Academy of Family Physicians*

## Alcohol, tobacco, and/or substance abuse
Psychosomatic symptoms
Risky behaviors
Slow recovery or poor health outcomes
Suicide

- Alcohol, tobacco, and/or substance abuse
- Psychosomatic symptoms
- Risky behaviors
- Slow recovery or poor health outcomes
- Suicide

**Health and health-related problems associated with untreated mental health needs:**

**Mental Health Is Important to Overall Health**

**Notes:**
But the mind-body connection goes beyond these symptoms. When untreated, mental health problems can have a profound effect on the health of children and youth. These are just some examples of how untreated mental health problems can lead to other serious health conditions.

## Health Care Providers Play Key Roles

**Health Care Providers Play ****Key Roles**

- Caregivers are more apt to raise concerns about mental health with primary health providers than mental health professionals.
- Youth are likely to raise concerns about depression with general practitioners or family doctors.
- Federally funded health centers are also critical providers of mental health services for those in need.

*Source: Psychiatric News, April 5, 2002*

**Notes:**
Because you are on the front lines—and often the first places families turn when they are in crisis—health care providers play a critical role in helping children and youth get the mental health services they need. Parents and caregivers may more readily seek the advice and care of primary care providers they know and trust for mental health needs. Youth themselves also frequently rely on primary care resources. In one study, more than 40 percent of people 12 and older who had experienced a major depressive episode saw a health professional and had used a prescription drug to treat their symptoms.* That’s why it is so important that we work together.

Sources: 
Caregivers—Lehmann, C.; “Guide Helps Clinicians Manage Mental Health Problems”; Psychiatric News, April 5, 2002, Volume 37, Number 7.

Federally funded health centers—Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Fact Sheet and Resource Guide: Mental Health Integration into Primary Care Settings; August 2005.

*Source: 
Results from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, September 2005 revision. 

## But Realities Can Intervene

**But Realities Can Intervene**

- Time constraints for patient visits
- Many States do not provide for identification or screening for mental health issues under Medicaid
- Reimbursements for identification and treatment can be difficult
- Primary care providers may not be fully trained to recognize the range of disorders that can affect children and youth
- Primary care providers may not know the full range of mental health services and supports that are available to children and youth

*Sources: Archives of Family Medicine, 1999; 8(1):58-67*
*Psychiatric News, April 5, 2002*
*Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, 2003*

**Notes:**
Health care providers are on the front lines, but you know better than I do that when mental health care rests solely with a primary care provider or a public health clinic, the realities of that setting affect both the identification of mental health needs and their treatment. Primary care patient visits that now range from 13-16 minutes in length often leave no time to talk about mental health issues.* What’s more, providers either find or perceive that reimbursements for mental health diagnosis and care are inadequate to cover their costs or too difficult to obtain.** Another reality is that not all primary care providers are fully equipped to recognize the signs and symptoms of serious mental health needs in children and youth.*** Finally, because primary health care providers do not specialize in mental health, it is likely that most do not know the full range of mental health services and supports that are available, making it difficult for children and youth to get referrals.
*Source: 
Williams, JW, Ross, K, Dietrich, AJ, Ciotti, MC, Zyzanski, SJ, Cornell, J. Primary care physicians’ approach to depressive disorders: effects of physician specialty and practice structure. Archives of Family Medicine 1999;8(1):58–67.
**Source: 
Lehmann, Christine; Guide Helps Clinicians Manage Mental Health Problems”; Psychiatric News, April 5, 2002, Volume 37, Number 7.
***Sources: 
(1) Medicaid: Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, “Children’s Mental Health, Substance Abuse Issues Not Identified. States Underutilize Screening Tools, Says New Study.”  Washington, DC, May 1, 2003. (2) Lehmann, Christine; “Guide Helps Clinicians Manage Mental Health Problems”; Psychiatric News, April 5, 2002, Volume 37, Number 7.

## When children with serious mental health needs receive coordinated services, their functioning substantially improves at school, at home, and in their community.
Systems of care can help primary care providers by easing the referral process and providing case management support.

- When children with serious mental health needs receive coordinated services, their functioning substantially improves at school, at home, and in their community.
- Systems of care can help primary care providers by easing the referral process and providing case management support.

**What Works for Children ****and Youth?**

**Notes:**
Fortunately, there is a way to relieve this pressure that mental health problems place on already strained health care systems. It is called systems of care. 

We know that when children and youth with serious mental health needs receive coordinated services through multiple child- and family-serving agencies and organizations—such as those representing health care, mental health, education, juvenile justice, child welfare, etc.—they can and do get better. For public and private health professionals, systems of care serve as comprehensive resources where they can refer patients and families and feel confident that their needs will be fully met.

## Helping children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families

**Systems of Care**

**Helping children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families**

**Systems of Care Work ****for ****Health Care**

- [Your LOGO]

**Notes:**
Over the past decade, more and more health care agencies and organizations have recognized the importance of meeting the mental health needs of children and youth, and as a result, have begun instituting programs to provide mental health supports and services. Some have partnered with their community’s system of care. Systems of care work with these groups to identify children and youth in need and then coordinate a wide range of services and supports to help them reach their full potential at home, at school, and in the community. And over the past decade, many agencies have found that the system of care approach works for them. Children and youth in a system of care are likely to receive treatment from several providers that meet their specific needs, rather than rely solely on health care providers for everything. This makes communities healthier while reducing the burden on local health care systems.

## What Are Systems of Care?

**Systems of Care Work ****for**** ****Health Care**

- [Your LOGO]

**What Are ****Systems of Care?**

**Notes:**
So, by now, you are probably asking, “What are systems of care?”

## A System of Care Is...A Community Partnership

**A System of Care Is...****A Community Partnership**

- Primary health care
- Child welfare
- Mental health and substance abuse professionals

- Juvenile justice
- Education
- Families
- Other community organizations

- 	**Among families, youth, schools, and public and private organizations. System of care partners may represent:**

**Notes:**
At the community level, a system of care is a partnership of child- and family-serving agencies and organizations, who, incidentally, usually find themselves serving the same children. By working together, they are able to build on each partner’s strengths to provide care that is more comprehensive and effective.

Of all the system of care partners, primary and other non-mental health care providers are some of the most important. As I mentioned earlier, primary care providers can be the initial entry point for a family with mental health needs. The trusting relationship families often have in place with their family providers can help them enter the system of care with confidence.

## Established by Congress in 1992
Currently, more than 60 system of care communities
Funded through cooperative agreements to States, communities, territories, and Tribal Nations 
Administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

- Established by Congress in 1992
- Currently, more than 60 system of care communities
- Funded through cooperative agreements to States, communities, territories, and Tribal Nations
- Administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

**A System of Care Is...****A Part of a National Initiative**

**Notes:**
Another unifying factor for all systems of care is that they are part, or once were part, of a national initiative established by Congress in 1992. Through Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, communities are funded to develop systems of care to serve the mental health needs of children, youth, and families. The initiative is administered by the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services, within the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

## Family-driven and youth-guided
Culturally and linguistically competent
Community-based

- Family-driven and youth-guided
- Culturally and linguistically competent
- Community-based

**A System of Care Is...****Guided by Core Values**

**Notes:**
The work of these community partners is guided by these core values. These values are the conceptual framework for all systems of care across the country, even if each system of care has a different focus. For example, some systems of care focus heavily on schools, others focus heavily on juvenile justice. Some may focus on serving Native American children and youth, while others serve primarily Hispanic/Latino populations. 

## Measures progress of children, youth, and families in systems of care
Informs decisionmakers and the decision-making process
Ensures accountability at the Federal and community level

- Measures progress of children, youth, and families in systems of care
- Informs decisionmakers and the decision-making process
- Ensures accountability at the Federal and community level

**A System of Care Is...****Federally Evaluated**

**Notes:**
Finally, all systems of care are Federally evaluated on the progress they make toward helping children, youth, and families using scientifically and statistically reliable instruments and methods. These aggregate data are used to inform Federal-, State-, and community-level decisionmakers on policies and practices that best help children and youth with serious mental health needs. This in turn improves the decision-making process. Finally, the evaluation data ensure that those involved with providing services through a system of care are financially and ethically accountable. 

## 	Because it is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families

- 	Because it is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families

**A System of Care Is...****Comprehensive**

**Notes:**
So, in other words, a system of care is comprehensive because it is “a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families.” 

## How Do Patients and Health Care Providers Benefit From Systems of Care?

**How Do Patients and Health Care Providers Benefit From Systems of Care?**

- Improved functioning
- Fewer emotional and behavioral problems
- Improved communication and coordination

**Notes:**
So how do patients and health care providers benefit from systems of care? Children and youth in systems of care improve in their overall functioning and have fewer emotional and behavioral problems, while providers benefit from improved coordination and communications. Now, let’s look at these benefits in a little more detail. 

## Intake to 6 months improved 39.8 percent
Intake to 18 months improved 43.5 percent
Intake to 36 months improved 47.7 percent

- Intake to 6 months improved 39.8 percent
- Intake to 18 months improved 43.5 percent
- Intake to 36 months improved 47.7 percent

*Source: CMHS National Evaluation, 2005*

**Benefit:**** ****Improved Strengths**

- Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale

**Notes:**
When looking at the progress of children and youth using the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale, a tool that assesses a child or youth’s emotional and behavioral strengths, we see that systems of care lead to substantially improved strengths over time. In a year and a half, the percentage of children and youth who improved their emotional and behavioral strength increased by nearly 9 percent, and then by nearly 20 percent in 3 years. 

Source: 
CMHS National Evaluation: Aggregate Data Profile Report, Grant Communities Funded from 1997 to 2000, data as of October, 2005.

## Intake to 6 months
Improved 35.4 percent
Stayed the same: 53.3 percent
Intake to 30 months
Improved 58.2 percent
Stayed the same: 34.1 percent

*Intake to 6 months*
- Improved 35.4 percent
- Stayed the same: 53.3 percent
*Intake to 30 months*
- Improved 58.2 percent
- Stayed the same: 34.1 percent

*Source: CMHS National Evaluation, 2005*

**Benefit:**** ****Fewer Emotional and Behavioral Problems**

- Child Behavior Checklist

**Notes:**
Another assessment tool, the Child Behavior Checklist, looks at children and youth’s emotional and behavioral problems. When looking at outcomes based on this instrument, we see that in only 6 months, about a third of all children and youth begin to make progress, while more than half are stabilized. And, over time, this progress continues. In two and a half years, more than half improve and a third are stabilized.

Source:
CMHS National Evaluation: Aggregate Data Profile Report, Grant Communities Funded from 1997 to 2000, data as of October, 2005.

## Decrease for children with a history of suicide or ideation: 11.4 percent
Decrease for children with no known history of suicide or ideation: 5.7 percent

- Decrease for children with a history of suicide or ideation: 11.4 percent
- Decrease for children with no known history of suicide or ideation: 5.7 percent

*Source: CMHS National Evaluation, 2004*

**Benefit:**** ****Improved Functioning and Fewer Emotional and Behavioral Problems**

- Number of children with CBCL scores in the clinical range for depression

**Notes:**
In addition to overall improvements, we also see that children and youth who are at risk for suicide make even greater strides than those who are not at risk for suicide. When looking at scores for the Child and Adolescent Functional Assess Scale and the Child Behavior Check List, children at most risk for suicide improve at a faster rate. This is significant, as all children who attempt suicide are treated by health care providers and preventing this type of tragedy is better than any treatment after the fact.

Source:
Data analysis of CMHS National Evaluation Data from Grant Communities Funded from 1997 to 2000, data as of October, 2005.

## Children and youth with chronic illnesses have significantly higher behavioral and emotional problems on clinical measures than children without chronic illnesses, yet show similar rates of improvement across time when enrolled in a system of care.

*Source: CMHS National Evaluation, 2004*

**Benefit:**** ****Improved Functioning and Fewer Emotional and Behavioral Problems**

**Notes:**
At the same time, children with chronic illnesses who tend to have more mental health needs than other children improve at the same rate as children without chronic illnesses. Again, this is important for health care providers, as children with chronic illnesses are likely to need more health care services than other children, and because their mental health can play a role in the progression of their illnesses.

Source:
Center for Mental Health Services. (In Review). Annual Report to Congress on the Evaluation of the Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, 2004.

## Systems of care help improve communication among all those serving children and families (i.e., primary and mental health care providers, schools, child welfare, etc.), which allows public health workers to better understand and treat their patients’ conditions.
Systems of care can coordinate a wide range of services and supports for children, youth, and families, which may reduce the burden on health care providers.

- Systems of care help improve communication among all those serving children and families (i.e., primary and mental health care providers, schools, child welfare, etc.), which allows public health workers to better understand and treat their patients’ conditions.
- Systems of care can coordinate a wide range of services and supports for children, youth, and families, which may reduce the burden on health care providers.

**Benefit:**** ****Improved Communication and Coordination**

**Notes:**
While children and youth in systems of care make significant improvements in their mental health, systems of care also help improve communication among all those involved in helping children and youth. Often, system of care case managers serve as service coordinators and facilitate communications, helping avoid duplication of services among all those involved in a child or youth’s life, such as health care providers, mental health care providers, child welfare, juvenile justice, schools, community organizations, and others. 

## Health care providers can help treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.
Patients can be referred to successful, “non-medical” approaches, which reduces the burden on health care systems.
Families are more engaged and, therefore, more likely to comply with treatment recommendations.

- Health care providers can help treat the cause rather than just the symptoms.
- Patients can be referred to successful, “non-medical” approaches, which reduces the burden on health care systems.
- Families are more engaged and, therefore, more likely to comply with treatment recommendations.

**Benefit:**** ****Improved Communication and Coordination**

**Notes:**
For health care providers, a system of care offers a resource for providing much more comprehensive care for children and youth with serious mental health care needs. By helping these children and youth with their mental health problems as well as their physical health problems, health care providers can begin to treat illnesses at their root, rather than simply managing symptoms. Also, because systems of care stress community-based, family-driven services, children and youth are far less likely to be given treatments of last resort, such as unnecessary institutionalization or unnecessary medications. This, in turn, reduces the demand on the health care system, freeing up resources for others with serious needs. Finally, systems of care involve families in the care and services for their children. Doing this not only ensures that services and supports are relevant to their situations, but it also ensures that families buy into the care they are getting. As a result of this buy-in, they are more likely to comply with treatments.

## Who We Are

**Who We Are**

**Notes:**
[Insert a slide describing your system of care here. You may want to include your system of care’s name, its mission, and its vision.]

## Who We Serve

**Who We Serve**

**Notes:**
[Insert a slide describing who your system of care serves. You may want to include geographical areas (i.e., names of towns, counties, etc.), specific populations, etc.]

## Our Partners

**Our Partners**

**Notes:**
[Insert a slide describing your system of care partners.]

## Our Outcomes

**Our Outcomes**

**Notes:**
[Insert a slide describing your outcomes here. Health care-related outcomes should be a priority.]

## [Insert Name of Child Or Youth]’s Story

**Systems of Care Work ****for**** ****Health Care**

- [Your LOGO]

**[Insert Name of Child Or Youth]’s Story**

**A Local Case Study in Success**

## Oakland, California
Serves mostly American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Hispanic children, youth, and families
Close partnership with a Native American health center

**Systems of Care Work ****for ****Health Care**

- [Your LOGO]

- Oakland, California
- Serves mostly American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Hispanic children, youth, and families
- Close partnership with a Native American health center

**Systems of Care and Public Health:**** ****A Case Study in Success**

**Notes:**
By now, you are probably wondering how all of this translates on a local level. It is one thing to see national outcomes data, but it is another to see systems of care in practice. The next few slides illustrate how a system of care in Oakland, California has partnered with a local health clinic.

## Outcomes of the System of Care Partnership in Oakland, California

**Outcomes of the System of Care Partnership in ****Oakland, California**

- Increased cultural competence
- Improved communication and coordination
- Improved mental health outcomes

**Notes:**
Generally speaking, by partnering with a system of care, a local health clinic in Oakland, California, has been able to better serve children, youth, and families. Most notably, its involvement with the system of care has led to improvements in cultural competence and in the general coordination of health and mental health services. As a result, children and youth with serious mental health needs are able to get the full range of services and supports they need to thrive in their communities. 

## Outcome:  Increased Cultural Competence

**Outcome:****  ****Increased Cultural Competence**

- Service providers understand families’ needs.
- Service providers understand families’ beliefs about mental health.
- Service providers treat children, youth, and families with respect.

**Notes:**
Let’s look at cultural competence in a little more detail. Families feel that their needs and beliefs are understood, and that they are treated with respect by service providers in this system of care. For health care providers, making sure patients know you understand them and their needs is important. It is reasonable to think that people are more likely to take your advice and recommendations when they believe you “get” them. This may be especially true for recommendations related to mental health, as stigma associated with mental illnesses often discourages people from getting the help they or their children need.

## Health and mental health services more fully integrated
Health care providers can refer patients to a viable network of non-medical supports and services to meet their needs

- Health and mental health services more fully integrated
- Health care providers can refer patients to a viable network of non-medical supports and services to meet their needs

**Outcome:****  ****Coordination and Collaboration**

**Notes:**
Another important outcome that this system of care has experienced is improved coordination and collaboration between child and family organizations and agencies. As you know, doctors are often one of the first places families turn when their children are having a mental health crisis. Instead of having to treat the child or youth alone, this system of care can give health care providers a way to refer patients to a comprehensive network of integrated mental health services and supports. 

## Interpersonal strengths—the ability to interact with others in social situations
Intrapersonal strengths—one’s own perception of his or her own functioning
Affective strengths—ability to give and receive affection
Family involvement—the commitment to or relationship with their families

**Outcome:****  ****Improved Mental Health Outcomes**

- Interpersonal strengths—the ability to interact with others in social situations
- Intrapersonal strengths—one’s own perception of his or her own functioning
- Affective strengths—ability to give and receive affection
- Family involvement—the commitment to or relationship with their families

**Notes:**
And the outcomes for this system of care are pretty dramatic. Using a tool called the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale, this system of care was able to identify improvements in areas related to mental health. Overall, enrollment in the system of care led to improvements in social abilities, self perceptions, giving and receiving affection, and in family involvement. Combined, these improvements suggest that this system of care is finding ways to meet the complex mental health needs of the children, youth, and families in their communities.

## What Our Partnership Could Accomplish

**What Our Partnership Could Accomplish**

- Improved care for children and youth with serious mental health problems
- Better coordination and collaboration among health care and mental health care providers
- Better access to comprehensive mental health care and related services for children and youth
- Healthy children and youth

**Notes:**
[These bullets are suggestions. Please insert accomplishments that would be realistic for your system of care.]

As partners, we can help children and youth with serious mental health needs reach their full potential. At the same time, our partnership can help health care providers reach their full potential in serving children and youth.

## How Can We Work Together To Support Children’s Mental Health Needs?

**How Can We Work Together To Support Children’s Mental Health Needs?**

**For more information, contact:**
- [Your Name and Title]
- [Your System of Care Community’s Name]
- [Your Contact Information]

**Notes:**
Now, I’d like to finish by brainstorming some ways we can work together.