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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Sandra Barajas and Dana Edgull, LCSW. Behavioral Health Division, Monterey County Health Department, 1000 S. Main Street, Suite 105, Salinas, CA 93109, 831-784-2114, edgulldr@co.monterey.ca.us

Monterey County received a System of Care grant in 2003 to improve behavioral health services for children and youth experiencing significant emotional and behavioral challenges and their families. A core component of a System of Care is to deliver care that is family driven, that families have a primary decision making role in the care of their own children as well as the policies and procedures governing care for all children. Monterey County has implemented infrastructures to involve families in the development and ongoing monitoring of the services being delivered and in the treatment of their children. A family advisory committee was established to provide recommendations to forward the goal of improving behavioral health services and an interagency Governance Council was established that has family representation. A family partnership program was developed to offer families support groups, guidance in accessing services and identifying their rights, and informational workshops. This supportive environment has allowed families to express what service or treatment has been helpful and what challenges they have experienced. Simultaneously, clinicians need a safe environment so that they can integrate family input and have open dialogue with family members. Family partnership program staff is involving clinicians in the development of protocols to increase family participation in the treatment of their children. These infrastructures have supported families in developing trust and confidence to exercise their voice in the care of their children.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants (learners) in this session will be able to

• Assess to what extent their System of Care provides an infrastructure and environment that enables families to participate in the care of their child.
• List three benefits of family-driven care to families, three benefits to clinicians and three benefits to the system of care as a whole.
• Discuss two advantages and two challenges of implementing a Family Partnership program within the behavioral health system instead of as a stand alone community program.

Keywords: Family Involvement, Family/Consumer Perspective

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation