What We're Doing

Progress to date (as of 06/2008):

BRC Recommendation 4.4

Make every effort to move children from distant and residential settings to community-and home-based settings.

• Action Group 4.4: The action group developed two proposals that offer conceptual frameworks for change: a short term residential center, a community crisis stabilization service, and a transition service for youth returning from residential treatment facilities. These proposals were reviewed by the Leadership Council and sent to DBH/MRS for detailed review and action steps.Elements of these proposals are being incorporated in crisis and transition planning by DBH/MRS. In addition, see the initiatives listed below.
• Expanding In-State Network: As part of an overall effort to place children in residential treatment programs closer to home, six (6) in-state RTF providers were invited by Judge Dougherty and Dr. Evans to apply for inclusion into the CBH network. Applications were reviewed in March 2008 and site visits that included both clinical services and credentialing reviews were completed in the month of April 2008. Two applications were accepted from New Jersey based RTF’s based on their proximity in terms if mileage and cultural similarity. They will also undergo the standard review for new providers. Written summaries and recommendations will be submitted to the CBH Board for review at the June meeting.
• Joint Monitoring: The city is moving from individual agency (CBH, DHS, etc.) monitoring to joint monitoring of provider agencies. This not only streamlines the process for the agencies but also gives a more global picture of how a provider is doing overall.
• Interagency Provider List: DHS and DBH/MRS are developing a joint list of agreed upon residential facilities for children who are adjudicated delinquent and/or dependent. The list will identify the system(s) with which the program contracts and accreditation status. This information will be shared with Judge Dougherty and will be made available to judges at Family Court to assist in determining appropriate placements for children and youth in their care. This list will be continually updated and shared between all three systems.
• Implementing Evidence-Based Practices: The Leadership Council is looking into several evidence-based programs to keep youth at-risk for residential placement and youth returning from RTFs in the community. This includes:
  • Expanding Functional Family Therapy teams. A draft of the RFQ has been sent out for review. It is scheduled to go up on the web for distribution in early July 2008. The RFQ will solicit those qualified providers who can offer FFT as a service that is part of an outpatient psychiatric clinic. The expansion of qualified FFT providers could be complete by the end of September 2008. 
  •  Expanding Family-Based Mental Health Services (FBMHS). The RFP for Family Based was issued on April 24, 2008 and there were 18 responses to the RFP. Those proposals have been through a preliminary review for completeness and will undergo a formal proposal rating in mid-June. The goal is to have the selection completed by late June/early July.
  • Continuing the Beck Initiative. The next program to be chosen for the Beck initiative, (training in Cognitive Therapy), will be the first specifically for youth with anxiety, depression and a history of trauma. We expect that training will be underway by the end of the summer.
  • High-Fidelity Wraparound Training: The Philadelphia Compact will host a training program on High-Fidelity Wraparound on Thursday, August 14. The training will be coordinated by Dr.Stan Mrozowski from OMHSAS and the Youth and Family Institute. We will announce well in advance the specific time and place for the training. This training will give local families and providers a better understanding of the State’s roll out of High Fidelity Wraparound as well as prime the community for the implementation of HFW through the Systems of Care grant, if it is awarded in the fall.  To view more information >> events.asp

• Aging Out Initiative (Robert Wood Johnson Cross-System Financing Project): The providers selected for the Aging Out Initiative have been interviewing the first group of aging out youth and are developing plans to transition them into the community. Person-centered plans have been developed that identify the range of supports, services and types of housing needed. The providers are putting together the respective budgets for DBH/MRS and DHS to identify the funding mix to support these plans. To date, there are a total of 34 young adults that are being interviewed or have been interviewed. Of the 34, the 3 young adult males are moving into a 3-bedroom home operated by one of the providers under contract with DBH/MRS and DHS. They will be moving by the end of June. One young man is moving into a family living situation and will be starting community college in the fall. Two providers have sent staff to the out-of-state residential programs to interview youth in Utah, Texas and Virginia. 
  • The Juvenile Law Center will be assisting in overseeing that the plans move forward in this process. Monthly review meetings will be held with the respective advocates, DHS social workers, the youth and their families, representative from the school district, and staff from DBH/MRS. The goal is to ensure that these young adults are transitioned appropriately into the community.
• Cross-Systems Clinical Work Group: For the past 9 weeks, DBH and DHS have held joint weekly meetings, attended by Donald Schwarz, M.D., Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and other high-ranking executives from JJS, CBH, DBH and MRS. At each meeting the group discusses and reviews the appropriateness of specific youth currently in care in residential treatment facilities.
• Systems of Care Grant Opportunity: The Leadership Council applied for a fiscal year (FY) 2008 grant (Cooperative Agreements for Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families (CMHI)) issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The purpose of this programis tosupport entities in developing integrated home and community-based services and supports for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families by encouraging the development and expansion of effective and enduring systems of care. This is an opportunity to incorporate and implement concepts from the Action Group 4.4 proposals. Services developed will serve as diversionary resources for youth at-risk of an out-of-community placement. See the attached abstract of the proposed SoC project.

BRC Recommendation 3.2

Identify and intervene early with children who are vulnerable to behavioral health problems.

• Department of Recreation: On May 20 and 21 a training was presented on Understanding Children’s Behaviors to the facility supervisors of the 95 summer camps operated by the Department of Recreation. These camps serve approximately 10,000 children. The trainings were enlivened by role-play episodes, carried out by both the Compact Youth Committee and facility supervisors, to specifically illustrate how to discuss problems of aggression and depression with children, and how to refer parents appropriately for child mental health services. On July 1st and 2nd we will continue the training program, and the target audience will be the summer camp counselors. We received very positive responses on the evaluation forms for these initial sessions. 
• Office of Supportive Housing: This group will focus on the creation of materials for parents/guardians regarding how to talk to their children about staying in shelter as well as materials for children to better prepare them for this transition. Observation of the intake center is currently being conducted and an Action Group will be developed shortly to undertake this task. 
• 0-5 Behavioral Health Consultation: An outgrowth of the Action Group 3.2.1, this group is in the process of developing a proposed model for behavioral health consultation in day care settings. This proposal will be sent to the Leadership Council and Monitoring Group. 

Recommendation 3.2.1: Adoption of standardized, validated, and easy to use screening tools across settings where children are served.

• Action Group: The group has developed a resource of screening tools for social and emotional health, drug and alcohol, and family needs with specific recommendations for primary care settings and day care settings. This information was sent to the Monitoring Group and the Leadership Council for review. The action group invited other key stakeholders to discuss a behavioral health consultation model for day care settings. This larger group has met and will continue to work on developing a proposed model for Philadelphia.

BRC Recommendation 4.2

Develop better access points to services and supports for children and their families.

• Meetings with Child Outpatient Clinic Providers: As a follow up to the focus group meetings mentioned in a previous report, we met with the directors of the children’s outpatient mental health clinics on April 16 and 18, to explore questions of access and to jointly collaborate on improving care within the clinics. At these initial meetings, many questions were raised regarding state out-patient regulations, and CBH and Health Choices regulations, which we hope to clarify at another meeting scheduled for July. At that meeting, representatives from the State and CBH will be available to respond to the questions which will be obtained in advance from the providers via email. We intend to hold a continuing series of meetings with child out-patient providers, on a quarterly basis, again with the objective of improving access and care, resolving problems faced by out-patient providers and addressing families’ concerns.

BRC Recommendation 6.1

Improve coordination and integration across individual, service provider and system levels.

• Structured Assessment Tool: The DBH/MRS in conjunction with school-based behavioral health providers and the School District of Philadelphia has adopted a structured assessment tool that will capture information from both parents/caregivers and from teachers that will also foster collaboration at the individual child level.

BRC Guiding Principle

Recommendation 1.3: Create community strategies to build public awareness and knowledge of factors that promote social and emotional health and safety.

• Family and Youth Information Expo: A resource and information fair for teens and their families was held on May 13^th, at Love Park in recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day and National Mental Health Awareness Month. Information on adolescent and teen behavioral health services, health and wellness, youth mentoring and leadership programs, youth recreational programs, as well as family support and advocacy services were available. Various behavioral health and other service providers, advocates, and youth- focused community agencies participated, including representatives from several CoA member organizations. 
• Poster Contest: What Teens Need to Succeed and Thrive: A Poster Contest was sponsored by the Philadelphia Compact to promote Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month (May) and National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day- May 8, 2008. The focus for 2008 was on high school age youth. The theme was Social and Emotional Well-being: What Teens Need to Succeed and Thrive. There was a Grand Prize winner and a runner up. The awards will be presented at the June Council of Advocates meeting.
• Philadelphia Compact Outreach: The Philadelphia Compact has begun outreach efforts in the community emphasizing the importance of behavioral health, available resources, and information on the Philadelphia Compact.
  • Legs Against Arms: Physicians for Social Responsibility, sponsored this 5K race against fire arms in Philadelphia. 
  • Faith Based Conference:  The Philadelphia Compact staffed a resource table at the DBH Faith Based Conference.
  • NAMI Walk: The Philadelphia Compact sponsored a team and staffed a table at the NAMI Walk.

Recommendation 2.1: Create opportunities in child-serving systems for children and families to have voice in decision making regarding planning, service delivery and treatment.

• Compact Family Member Committee (CFMC).   The CFMC continues to meet monthly and is committed to assuring family member voice and partnership in the planning and implementation of Compact-related activities and initiatives. Meetings are usually held the last Thursday of each month at the Best Practices Institute in center city. View more information on these trainings and other family activities »
  • May First Friday Series – Several family members from the CFMC and the Philadelphia Compact Youth Committee presented on the issue of family inclusion and the  importance of fostering family and youth resilience.  A couple of the speakers provided information about services available through their respective agencies (PIN and PEAK programs; Autism Sharing and Caring Support Group) and inspired the audience through sharing their own personal stories of the importance of resilience in their lives or those of their children.
  • Radio Coverage on WURD – Information about the Teen and Family EXPO and the general mission of the Philadelphia Compact was promoted on Dr. Ijoy’s radio talk show on WURD. 
  • Respite Work Group - Parents and grandparents from the CFMC have been involved in the DBH Children’s Unit Respite Work Group. This workgroup has been charged with developing policies regarding the disbursement of FY ’08 and FY ’09 respite funds that are made available from OMHSAS. Additionally, input from family members will be obtained via use of surveys and focus groups that will be used to inform DBH and OMHSAS on the respite needs and barriers to respite experienced by family members. 
  • Resilience Conference Planning - Several members of the CFMC are serving on the planning committee for the Resilience Conference to take place this fall (see below).
• Philadelphia Compact Youth Committee: The Philadelphia Compact Youth Committee has participated in numerous activities since receiving its initial training in the spring including a rededication of a local recreation center, panel presentations at the Recovery and Resilience Conference and the Alcohol Awareness Town Hall Meeting, staffing a table at the Family and Teen Expo for Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, participating in the NAMI walk,  and assisting in training Recreation Department summer camp staff. The group will be conducting extensive training in the summer and preparing for various projects in the fall.  View more information on the Youth Committee »
• Family Member Storytelling Training: The Philadelphia Compact has been sponsoring ongoing Family Member Storytelling Training. There have been three sessions held to date, training over 50 participants. In the training, family members learn to tell their story as a catalyst for change within behavioral health and child serving systems. Participants are able to go on to be panelists and presenters. The next training will be held in July 2008.

Guiding Principle: Children and families possess strengths, interests and a capacity for growth and change that can be augmented by support from the community, including their peers; and Recommendation 1.1: Advance a framework of resilience based on the strengths of children and their families throughout the community.

• Resilience Conference: The Philadelphia Compact with a cross section of stakeholders has begun planning a resilience conference for this fall. The intention of the conference is to kick-off an ongoing dialogue and series of trainings to promote the framework of resilience for children’s behavioral health. To view more information >> events.asp

Other Achievements Advancing the BRC Recommendations

• Mothers, Fathers, and Children Conference: The second conference the Compact is sponsoring the Mothers, Fathers and Children Symposium, which covers seminal questions in contemporary child development, including attachment, foster care, trauma, problems of parenting (including motherhood and fatherhood), childhood aggression and the impact of poverty. The purpose of the symposium is to inform the target audience of these critical issues facing parents and children in today’s society. To view more information> events.asp    BRC Recommendation 5.3: Upgrade the skills of those working with children by expanding and improving training and education for behavioral health and other staff. 
• Person-First Conference: Valuing the Village Conference. The Person-First Task Force is planning a conference for November 21st, Valuing the Village: Honoring Diversity and Ending Health Disparities. A Person-First approach ensures that a person’s race, ethnicity, language capability, religion, spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social role, age, physical ability, cognitive ability, and/or economic status is acknowledged and incorporated in the delivery of recovery/resilience-oriented services. The group is made up of many community members representing diverse communities and DBH/MRS staff.  BRC Recommendation 2.2: Deliver services and supports in a way that respects and is responsive to children’ racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities.
• OAS Advisory Board: Children’s Subcommittee: The Office of Addiction Services Advisory Board’s first subcommittee has been developed to look at the needs of children and youth and their families in regards to drug and alcohol related issues. The subcommittee includes members from the Council of Advocates and the Leadership Council. The group is charged with taking the OAS strategic plan and ensuring the Blue Ribbon Commission goals are reflected and expanded upon for this specific population. To this end they have developed a refined set of goals that are inclusive of children and youth issues and reflect the importance of a resilience framework. BRC Recommendation 3.2.9: Identification of, and intervention with, children using alcohol, tobacco and other drugs (ATOD).
• School District Re-Engagement Center (REC): The School District had a soft opening for the new Re-Engagement Center housed at 440 N. Broad. The Center will assist students who have disconnected from high school (truancy, drop-out) and are interested in returning to school. Staffing will include individuals from DHS knowledgeable about prevention programming and DBH staff able to provide bio-psycho-social assessments and ensure appropriate behavioral health supports are in place. A more formal opening is expected later this summer.  BRC Recommendation 3.2.5: Identification of, and intervention with, children with academic difficulties who may be at risk of developing behavioral health problems.
• Carver Science Fair Behavioral Health Awards: The Philadelphia Compact was a sponsor for the 29th Annual George Washington Carver Science Fair, which is open to all of the City's middle and high school students.   Staff representing the DBH Children's Unit and the Philadelphia Compact served as judges during the science fair and participated in the Awards Ceremony held on March 25th at the Academy of Natural Sciences.  The Philadelphia Compact Excellence in Behavioral Health Awards were awarded to two (2) middle school students (who each received a $50 prize) and to three (3) high school students (who each received a $100 prize).   Congratulations to all of the winners!   BRC Recommendation 1.3: Create community strategies to build public awareness and knowledge of factors that promote social and emotional health and safety. 
• Alcohol Awareness Campaign: The Alcohol Awareness campaign was a collaboration between the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Programs, the PA National Guard's Counter Drug Program, and DBH/MRS. The 2008 theme was "The Prevention of Underage Drinking". This campaign involved a myriad of events and activities including training prevention providers in the evidenced based drug and alcohol prevention curriculum "Stay on Track", promoting the PA Liquor Control Board Poster Contest, providing education activities in schools throughout the city, and holding a Town Hall meeting to raise awareness in the community around the underage drinking. Throughout the month, there were more than 1500 informational pamphlets, posters, and bookmarks disseminated to schools, youth, and community agencies raising awareness about underage drinking and the negative effects of alcohol use. The National Guard visited more than 15 public and parochial schools and engaged more than 500 youth in small group dialogues on alcohol education.  BRC Recommendation 3.1: Improve and expand broad-based prevention and health promotioni activities to keep all children on the right track. 
• Speaker’s Bureau: DBH/MRS is spearheading a speaker’s bureau comprising individuals involved in the adult system transformation and/or the Philadelphia Compact. Panels will speak throughout the community about the transformation efforts, how it has impacted their lives, and the need for services to be provided in ways that are meaningful to them and to their families. BRC Recommendation 1.3: Support communities in creating strategies to build public awareness and knowledge of factors that promote social and emotional health and safety.
• Person-First Task Force: This task force was recently convened to incorporate a Person-First approach into the transformation efforts at DBH/MRS. A Person-First approach ensures that a person’s race, ethnicity, language capability, religion, spirituality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social role, age, physical ability, cognitive ability, and/or economic status is acknowledged and incorporated in the delivery of recovery/resiliency-oriented services. The group is made up of many community members representing diverse communities and DBH/MRS staff. BRC Recommendation 2.2: Deliver services and supports in a way that respects and is responsive to children’ racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities.

• Comprehensive Adolescent Care Clinics: The PDPH was awarded a competitive grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health for a pilot project for two Comprehensive Adolescent Care Clinics. DBH/MRS was an active partner in the development of the grant with regard to including behavioral health services in the proposal and will continue to collaborate with Dept. of Public Health as the clinics are up and running. These one stop shop clinics at Health Center 5 and 6 clearly are in keeping with BRC Recommendation 6.3 Increase the integration of behavioral health and physical health services.
• Curfew Centers: The city, through the Department of Human Services and community partnerships, currently operates 11 Curfew Centers in Philadelphia. The centers were developed to keep youth off the streets and out of harms way while also providing connections to a variety of social services. DBH/MRS addresses the behavioral health needs (mental health, and drug and alcohol) of youth seen at the center by having an onsite presence for assessment and follow-up through its contracted providers. Training and monitoring of the behavioral health piece is provided through the Children’s Unit at the Office of Mental Health.  BRC Recommendation 3.2: Identify and intervene early with children who are likely to develop behavioral health problems.
• Madeline Moore Summer Camp Grants: This program provides financial grants to families with children who have identified behavioral health needs so their child can attend summer camp. With increased funding, the DBH/MRS Children’s Unit was able to use the $700,000 to provide camp experiences for 1,400 children in 2007. BRC Recommendation 3.1 Improve and expand broad based prevention and health promotion activities to keep all children on the right track.
• Memorandum of Understanding: The school district’s investment in collaboration at the service provider and cross systems level is evident in the work that has occurred in drafting a Memorandum of Understanding for any behavioral health services that take place in the schools. This effort is progressing and is under review by the School District’s legal counsel.  BRC Recommendation 6.2 Develop specific reforms to improve collaboration in schools, between schools and the behavioral health system.
• Mini-Grants: The DBH/MRS awarded mini-grants of up to $10,000 to grassroots, community and faith-based organizations, and smaller provider agencies for one-time enhancements. Forty-five of the 76 awards went to address the needs of children or youth and their families. BRC Goal 4: Children and families are able to obtain quality services when and where they need them.
• DBH/MRS Sponsored Murals: The Mural Arts Program and DBH/MRS have partnered to design and create 4 major murals that come under the theme of “Recovery, Resilience and Determination”. The Mural Arts Program has a twenty-year history in Philadelphia harnessing the transforming power of murals and has taken on complex themes in public health and violence including programs for vulnerable youth who are truant, delinquent, in out-of-home placement and incarcerated. The first mural planned, “Bridging the Diaspora” addresses the racial divide between African immigrants and African Americans. Another mural is dedicated to keeping children safe in our city and will specifically address the impact of violence by and against juveniles. These murals will tie into the work of the Philadelphia Compact. BRC Goal 1: Children’s social and emotional well-being is the responsibility of the entire community.
• PEAK (Parent Empowerment for Advocacy through Knowledge): This program offered by the Mental Health Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania teaches parents how to navigate the complexities of the mental health system and take full advantage of the wide range of systems and services available. The eight-week session provides parents with a clear understand of how the mental health, special education, juvenile justice, child welfare and drug and alcohol systems work for the benefit of their children. This program expanded to conduct specific outreach to parents/caregivers that face a language or cultural barrier including the deaf and hard of hearing, Cambodian and West African communities. BRC Recommendation 4.1: Provide children and families with information about all available services.