New Jersey Department of Children and Families
Child Behavioral Health Services
Family Support Organization (FSO)
Roles and Responsibilities and Contract Deliverables
August 2006 (updated)
Core Principles for FSO Participation in the New Jersey Department Children and Families
(DCF),
Child Behavioral Health Services (CBHS)
(Formerly the Partnership for Children)
• FSOs are full and equal system partners and an essential and integral component with responsibility to ensure family voices are heard and incorporated into the Child/Family Team process and ISP planning and implementation.
• FSOs provide leadership through activities at all levels that encourage fidelity to fundamental principles of family-focused/family-driven, child-centered, strength-based service planning and delivery. These activities are provided through equal partnership with CMOs that have primary responsibility and authority for
organizing and providing care management to enrolled families and their children with complex needs through design, implementation, management and coordination of Individual Service Plans.
• As a system partner, the FSO will work with and provide feedback to the CMO and all system partners to ensure the system is functioning in the best interest of families and children.
• The FSO will provide community outreach, education, advocacy, information/referral services, assist in accessing benefits and services and will offer peer support groups for families with children having
emotional and behavioral challenges. It will participate in strategic partnership activities, system feedback, community outreach, support, education and advocacy and provide direct peer-to-peer support for enrolled CMO families.
• FSO services purchased and delivered through contract with the DHS, CBHS will be based on a
comprehensive model of community development and peer support that manages resources effectively and efficiently. Basic FSO service guidelines include:
o FSOs will actively recruit and organize community volunteers and develop multifaceted peer support
groups.
o FSO administrative staff will engage in ongoing outreach and training to all system partners
(Providers, DYFS, JJS, MH, Education) to promote the role of the family in the PFC and encourage appropriate and effective participation by FSOs as system partners.
o FSO staff and volunteers will work with the CMO and Child/Family process through ongoing
education and coaching of appropriate and effective attitudes and behaviors.
o Peer support for CMO families during initial engagement and the Interim Service Planning process,
with intensity of support matched to family need. Trained family support partners will be utilized for individual, face-to-face support for families requiring this level of intensity.
Service Categories:
(each category of equal importance)Peer-to-Peer Support
FSO/CMO Strategic Partnership
Education and Advocacy
SERVICE CATEGORY
DHS, CBHS EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES
FSO ACTIVITIES/TASKS TIME FRAMES MEASUREMENT/ PRODUCTS
FSO/ CMO STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
CMO/ FSO working relationship that includes:
Ongoing coaching and training on family-friendly ISP and care management processes to CMO staff. Collaboration on community-based resource/service development.
Suggestions for CMO/FSO joint collaboration:
FSO (Director) participates in Care Manager hiring process; CMO Director
participates in FSO hiring process
FSO to co-write selected materials and sponsor activities with CMO
Mutual drop-in policies Between CMO/FSO staff
Joint FSO/CMO
meetings for FSO input on care management approach to family issues, and for FSOs to receive feedback from CMO staff on FSO interventions with families.
FSO staff to attend CMO training and community activities and CMO staff invited to same
FSO/CMO executive directors meet to resolve issues and develop joint strategies to assist families
FSO consults with care managers on non-specific (strategic, policy/procedures etc) families issues. CMO staff consults with FSO as well. Monthly Ongoing Monthly or more frequently if needed Ongoing Documentation in: FSO Monthly Service Report
SERVICE CATEGORY
DHS, CBHS EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES
FSO ACTIVITIES TIME FRAMES MEASUREMENTS/ PRODUCTS
EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY
Organization and delivery of:
Ongoing System Partner education through
presentations and forums on family issues and needs, and the role of the FSO. FSO to
communicate family/friendly, parent/professional
messages to various local audiences.
System partner training for effective engagement and support for families in the Child/Family Team Process.
Participation in local and state policy committees and work groups as organized by DHS, CBHS.
Help families understand Medicaid, NJ Family Care eligibility and support application Method of communication will include: Presentations/Training Participation in group activities Public Relations activities
Key stakeholder audiences will include county based:
DYFS JJ Medicaid Schools Provider groups CCIS CIACC/CART
Child Advoc. Orgs.
Other Child/Fam. Orgs.
Families
Become aware of family response to system and services and provide feedback at state and local levels. Ongoing in each communication category with at least 2 presentations monthly to stakeholder audiences. By end of contract year, all stakeholders will receive one or more presentations. Documentation in Monthly Service Report
process for families.
SERVICE CATEGORY
DHS CBHS EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES
FSO ACTIVITIES TIME FRAMES MEASUREMENTS/ PRODUCTS
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Through outreach and marketing, identify and serve a growing body of families at the local county (s) level by offering
educational forums, peer support groups, advocacy and volunteer opportunities
Create a network of peer/family volunteers matched appropriately with a range of peer support roles and responsibilities
Create processes for ongoing recruitment, training, and organization of family volunteers. Develop:
Mailing list of families for sharing of
information
Ongoing peer support groups, information groups, classes and community forums for promoting family values and perspectives, and to engage the community in networking and mutual support
Build a community-based network of families available for peer-to-peer support and other FSO volunteer activities. Ongoing Ongoing 3 peer support groups/class es to meet monthly. • Community Education forum every 2 months. • Identify numbers and use of mailing list during course of year. Document in Monthly Service Report Ongoing Document in Monthly Service Report. 20 peer volunteers
COMMUNITY OUTREACH (CONT’D)
Depending upon local need, volunteers may participate in: • Phone Tree • Delivery of direct Peer Support • Attendance at local policy meetings/committees • *Respite/child care for fellow families
• IEP Meetings
• Advocacy activities
• Other
*Need for adequate training and oversight
Build a community based Youth Partnership network.
A “Warm Line” for help and information
Linkage with NJMHI for ongoing training and technical assistance of staff
Youth Partnership Network will include support,
education and advocacy
• Ongoing and available during business hours Ongoing • Ongoing beginning in second year of contract. during year 2. Report numbers (phone log) in Monthly Service Report • Document in Monthly Service Report.
SERVICE CATEGORY
DHS CBHS EXPECTATIONS AND DELIVERABLES
FSO ACTIVITIES TIME FRAMES MODEL MEASUREMENTS/ PRODUCTS DIRECT PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FOR CMO FAMILIES
Peer – To – Peer Support will be provided within budget parameters at discretion of Executive Director and according to needs of family.
Maximum direct Peer - To - Peer support provided during initial month (s) of ISP process (engagement and first child/family team) by trained family support partners to a majority (90%) of CMO families. Peer/family volunteers to provide direct peer support later in ISP process, if requested by family.
Family Support Partner and Care Manager will make joint engagement visit (within 72 hours) to
enrolled CMO families. If not possible FSO will make separate visits. FSO will timely notify CMO of critical incidents and when support partners are no longer involved with families. CMO will timely notify FSO of team
meetings, rescheduled meetings, critical incidents. Following activities
provided to families who request FSO services:
• Assistance in understanding PFC process and in
communicating family needs to CM.
Support for families to engage in Care Management process See Expectations and Deliverables Column; See critical incident policy. Record number of families served on Monthly Service Report.
DIRECT PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT FOR CMO FAMILIES (CONT’D) Peer-To-Peer Support delivered by a Family Support Partner will:
• Provide explanation of role and function of FSO to newly enrolled CMO families
• Ensure family voice is incorporated into ISP process through communication with Care Manager
• Listen to family needs, concerns from peer perspective, offering suggestions for engagement in Care Management process
• Help family identify and use natural support system and other
community resources (in concert with CMO
community resource staff member).
• Encourage, refer family to attend peer group and
Community resource linkage
Linkage to peer network.
Consultation, if needed, to Care Managers on ISP management after
discussion with families.
Record number of families served on Monthly Service Report. Family Support Partners to maintain brief record of each family contact with discussion notes.
other FSO activities throughout ISP process.