Measuring System of Care Core Values in a Behavioral Health System of Care

Abstract

The Comprehensive Services for Children and Their Families or System of Care (SOC) is the largest mental health project ever conducted by the US federal government. These programs are based on a value-driven framework that includes: child/youth centered and family driven practice, community-based practice, and culturally competent practice (Stroul and Friedman in A system of care for children and youth with severe emotional disturbances, Georgetown University Child Development Center, CASSP Technical Assistance Center, Washington, DC, 1986). The aim of this study is to determine the extent of the adoption of SOC values by families, system partners, providers and community organizations in a countywide SOC. Using a retrospective design, data was collected through a system-wide survey and focus groups, which asked respondents to rate the presence of SOC core values prior to and four years following its creation. Results suggest that system partners, provider staff, and families are aware of the changes that have occurred within the system as a result of the SOC.

Disparities in Youth and Family Experiences of System-of-Care Principles by Level of Youth Need

“…At the policy level, the application of system-of-care principles is reflected in how services are funded (e.g., integrated funding from multiple organizations or sources), developed (e.g., generation of varied community-based services and supports), organized (e.g., single points of entry, co-location of staff), and managed (e.g., integrated quality monitoring and new service development across systems). Several studies have shown that communities vary extensively in their adherence to system-of-care principles at the policy level (Greenbaum et al, 2011 ; Vinson et al, 2001 ). Research has also shown that greater adherence to system-of-care principles at the policy level increases access to mental health services, continuity of care, and use of less restrictive forms of care (Bickman, 1996 ; Bickman et al, 1997 ).…”

Shades of care: Understanding the needs of racially and ethnically diverse paediatric patients, their families, and health care providers in North America

“…There is a duality in the patient–provider relationship whereby cultural discrepancies are felt on both ends ( Patel et al, 2018 ; Sakai et al, 2019 ; Wald et al, 2014 ), and ‘cultural safety’ may be a potential solution in addressing these discrepancies. Cultural safety has recently emerged as an approach that holistically considers the role of social and historical contexts, as well as structural and interpersonal power imbalances, in influencing the healthcare experiences of patients ( Anishnawbe Health Toronto, 2011 ; National Aboriginal Health Organization, 2009 ).…”