Arkansas Children’s System of Care

1. Arkansas Children’s System of Care January 2014 Two Agencies Collaborate to Support Families in Western Arkansas Western Arkansas has the unique position of sharing System of Care functions within two separate agencies, DaySpring Behavioral Health Services and Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center (WACGC). Over the course of several years working together to serve the population in their area, the two agencies have also collaborated on a variety of activities, including Family Fun Day events, evidence based practices workshops, and educational/support efforts for families. Additionally, the agencies share a Family Support Partner (FSP). This was implemented during the onset of the FSP program in Summer 2011. In October 2013, the two agencies combined their Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) Regional Team and Care Coordinating Council in their first attempt to streamline these regional meetings. This was a joint effort to better accommodate both the professionals and family members who already served on both councils. This combined meeting has been a huge success and will hopefully prove to be a more productive way to serve our families. The professionals that were serving on the two councils expressed their sincere thanks for respecting their time and allowing them to continue participating with both councils in a more efficient manner. A committee is forming to begin work on the 2014-16 Strategic Plan Goals to present in January to the regional team. The collaboration has grown over the years and will only become stronger as we work together to serve the community. Information submitted by: Jo Lynn Gerdes, CASSP Coordinator, Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center and Cole Mitchel, Community Care Director, DaySpring Behavioral Health Services. Arkansas Awarded Grant of $ 1.78 Million Annually for Five Years Strategic Prevention Framework: Partnerships for Success The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) awarded Arkansas a Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success cooperative agreement (SPF-PFS) sub-grant. The SPF-PFS is designed to address two of the nation’s top substance abuse prevention priorities; underage drinking among persons ages 12-20 and prescription drug misuse and abuse among persons ages 12-25. The SPF-PFS is also intended to bring SAMSHA’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to a national scale. It is an opportunity for Arkansas to acquire additional resources to implement the SPF process at the state and community level and to promote the alignment and leveraging of prevention resources and priorities at the federal, state, and community levels. The SPF-PFS program will build upon the experience and established SPF-based prevention infrastructures to address two of the nation’s top substance abuse prevention priorities in communities of high need. The program is based on the premise that changes at the community level will, lead to measureable changes at the state level over time. By working together to foster change, states and their SPF-PFS funded communities of high need can more effectively begin to overcome the challenges underlying their substance abuse prevention priorities and achieve the goals of the SPF-PFS.

2. SOC Staff Attend National Federation For Children’s Mental Health Conference The Department of Human Services (DHS) Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) Children’s System of Care (SOC) staff attended the 24th annual National Federation For Children’s Mental Health conference in Washington D.C. from November 13 – 17, 2013. The theme of the conference was Children’s Mental Matters: Increase Awareness, Improve Services. Keynote speaker, Dr. Gary Blau, Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services, highlighted Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) commitment to reduce the impact of mental illness on America’s communities. Shown above: Noelle Harper, Lynn Kell, Representative Tim Griffin, Joyce Soularie, and Lisa Kessler Those attending from the DBHS included: Joyce Soularie, Family Support Partner Coordinator; Lisa Kessler, Clinical Coordinator and Lynn Kell, acting Children’s Services Coordinator. Noelle Harper, Coordinator of Arkansas Youth M.O.V.E., also attended. In addition the group was able to meet with Arkansas Representative Tim Griffin, Representative Rick Crawford, and Tate Heuer, Sr. Legislative Assistant for Senator Mark Prior, to discuss behavioral health issues in Arkansas. The National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is a national family-run organization linking more than 120 chapters and state organizations focused on the issues of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs and their families. Joyce Soularie made the following comments when giving highlights of the conference experience, “It was extremely gratifying to see the value being placed on the role of Family Support Partners, Youth Support Partners, and Peer Specialist. Recognizing the integral and necessary role they play by accrediting agencies, such as CARF, speaks to the effectiveness and competency as well as the positive outcomes when this element is added to care.” Wraparound Team Solutions: Winners! National Federation For Children’s Mental Health: www.ffcmh.org Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF): www.carf.org/search.aspx?searchtext=family%20support%20partners&categ GEM Studio George E. Miller II, child advocacy artist. Conference Artist. Online studio and shop for child advocacy art here: www.gemartstudio.com Wraparound services ended successfully for a family initially having problems dealing with the son’s inability to control his anger and excessive energy. The Wraparound team was able to offer valuable assistance to the family. One team member, the school custodian, offered to let the youth help him around the school. The youth enjoyed being able to do this.The team agreed to furnish a bicycle to the youth for this activity since otherwise he would not have had a way. One of the youth’s favorite pastimes was to float the river near his home. To give mom a means to reward her son for his good behavior, the team supplied an inflatable raft for this purpose. These solutions along with skills acquired enabled the family to overcome the issues they were experiencing. The therapist reported that the youth is having fewer incidents at school. He now also has a sense of belonging since volunteering his time with the custodian.

3. HEALTH CARE PAYMENT IMPROVEMENT INITIATIVE UPDATE For over a year, Department of Human Services (DHS) has been working diligently to improve the healthcare delivery system in the state through the Arkansas Payment Improvement Initiative (APII). Our vision is to create a comprehensive, patient-centered delivery system that improves the health of the population, enhances the patient experience of care, and rewards providers for high quality efficient care. Throughout this process, the Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) and the Division of Medical Services (DMS) has been working alongside behavioral health service providers, consumers, and their families to transform the Medicaid funded behavioral health system. Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative Clinical Work Group: The Clinical Work Group is comprised of representatives from behavioral health providers, family members, and other stakeholders who meet regularly with Department of Human Services representatives to review and provide feedback on the Behavioral Health Payment Improvement Initiative. In December, the group began reviewing service descriptions and will conclude this work in January. InterRAI Pilot Project: The goal of the pilot study is to complete assessments from a representative sample of Medicaid clients who utilize behavioral health services in the state of Arkansas. This assessment data will be used to develop an Arkansas specific algorithm to identify clients’ level of need and corresponding behavioral health service array. An expert panel made up of professionals will review assessment information and make a tier determination. A sample of 1,200 adults and 1,200 children will be drawn from the Medicaid client pool who received behavioral health services from July 2012 to May 2013. The goal is to complete 600 adult assessments and 600 youth assessments.   More information is available on the Payment Improvement website: http://www.paymentinitiative.org. Family Events Information and Upcoming Events Family Support Partner Training March 13-15 and March 27-29 For more information contact Joyce Soularie at joyce.soularie@arkansas.gov • October 26th Family Fun • Hot Springs • Approximately 250 participated • Activities included: • Bounce houses • Face painting • Balloon animals • Zip line • Laser tag • Rock climbing Youth M.O.V.E. Arkansas Link: http://www.youthmovear.org/home.php Check out: how to get involved Quarterly Wraparound Activity Report Link: https://ardhs.sharepointsite.net/ARSOC/default.aspxCheck out: Outcome Improvements from the Arkansas Youth Information on page 7! • November 2nd Fall Fest • Yellville • 68 in Attendance • Events included: • Chili cook-off • Photo booth • Costume Contest • Pumpkin Painting • Mummy Relay Race • Rotten egg toss 2014 Arkansas Behavioral Health Care Commission Meeting Schedule: Thursday, January 16 Thursday, April 17 Thursday, July 17 Thursday, October 16 1:00 p.m. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange Street, North Little Rock, Arkansas