Introduction
In 1995, the State of Ohio announced
that it wanted Family and Children First Councils to apply for a grant to start
programs that leveraged collaborative efforts toward a reduction in the
number of youth who were unnecessarily removed from their homes.
(In 1994, over 25,000 kids were placed in out-of-home care
in Ohio. These placements lasted an average of 180-210 days and 25% of
the kids were placed more than once.)
The thought was that a large number of the out-of-home placements could
be avoided if systemic barriers could be understood and removed.
These new programs under the grant would serve as “gateways” to
placement and, by marshalling the combined resources of several County agencies,
could put the right resources in place to avoid or ‘divert’ many placements.
The Greene County Board of Commissioners
established the Greene County Family and Children First Department in 1996.
One of the tasks of the Department was to oversee the Family Stability Diversion Program, which had been established with one of the State grants.
‘Cluster’
As
was mentioned earlier, the Greene County Family Stability diversion program was
established in 1996 with a primary task of reducing youth out-of-home
placements. A team of people
representing various Greene County agencies was charged with this work.
They were called the “Cluster Team” and later the “Cluster
Diversion Team”. This
team still works together to try to prevent out of home placements and, when
prevention is not possible, to make the out-of-home stays as short as possible
before reintegrating the youth back into their home community.
You’ll still frequently hear this group called the “cluster” or
“cluster diversion team”. Some people also call it “family stability/diversion” or
“Intersystem” team.
Mission
Today
the mission of the Greene County Family Stability program has expanded and is to
ensure coordination and quality of services for families who have children
involved in more than one service system. Service
systems may include The Children’s Services Board, Juvenile Court, The Board
of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, mental health services, or
special education.
Service Coordination
The
primary function for meeting this mission is to provide service coordination.
Service Coordination means planning for kids and families in a holistic
way that is child-centered and family-focused with the strengths and needs of
the child and family guiding what measures are put in place to bring stability
to the family and prevent further involvement in formal service systems.
- Service
coordination means preventing duplication of services by agencies and it means
trying to prevent conflicting information and tasks being given to kids and
families by different agencies.
- Service
coordination also means trying to prevent out-of-home placements by making sure
kids and families are served in the least restrictive environment possible.
- Service
coordination doesn’t just involve formal “programs”. It means thinking about
how family, friends, faith communities, clubs, recreational activities, and volunteer
groups might help with the current situation.
If
an out-of-home placement cannot be avoided then the staff of the Family
Stability program will assist in locating an appropriate treatment setting,
assist with the financial arrangements, and monitor the youth’s progress in
placement to facilitate as quick of a return home as possible while still
meeting the needs of the child and family.
The child’s family, the intersystem coordinator, and involved service
systems may also work together to develop services that would have prevented the
out-of-home placement and/or will help bring the child back home more quickly.
Referrals
Many
families are referred to the Family Stability Program by agencies that they are
currently involved with, however, families may self-refer at any time or simply
contact us for more information by calling Family & Children First and
asking for the Family Stability Program.
Intersystem Collaborators:
| Greene County Children’s Services Board |
|
937-562-6600 |
|
Greene County Juvenile Court |
|
937-562-4000 |
|
Greene County Board of Mental Retardation/ Developmental Disabilities |
|
937-562-6500 |
|
Integrated Youth Services |
|
937-427-3837 |
|
The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Greene County |
|
937-322-0648 |
Special Education Services
contact local school district OR
Greene County Educational Services Center |
|
937-767-1303 |
|
