Archives for October 2013

 By:  Jon Randol, Clinical Coordinator, Clermont County Family & Children First

The Clermont FAST TRAC wraparound program, provided through Clermont County Family and Children First, is a unique planning process for children, adolescents and families. The process is designed to emphasize family voice and choice in the decision making process. Each family has a team made up of professional and natural supports that they have selected to help identify needs and develop strategies for meeting them.  The process uses collaboration to effectively support the family as they learn new skills for managing the many issues that can surface in life. The plans are individualized and use individual and family strengths to help accomplish the identified outcomes. Whenever possible, services and meetings are conducted in the family’s home and community.  All plans have measurable outcomes, so that progress on meeting needs and goals can be monitored.  Each family’s culture, is identified, respected and used to help achieve results.

To access this process, a family must meet some minimal criteria, which is being a resident of Clermont County, the referred child/adolescent must have a mental health diagnosis and the child must be between the ages of 3 and 21 at the time of referral. Anyone can refer a child and family to wraparound. We have received numerous self referrals as well as referrals from Juvenile Court, Children’s Protective Services, Board of Developmental Disabilities and school districts.  You may make a referral by filling out a Wraparound referral form located on the FAST TRAC website at http://clermontfasttrac.org or by calling Jon Randol at 732-5413.

Jennifer Kleier came to Clermont County TIP after serving as a Young Adult Case Manager at Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services for 2 years.  Jennifer has been a Transition Facilitator on the Clermont County TIP team for the past year.  Prior to working at GCBHS, Jennifer worked at NorthKey Community Care for 3 years as an Adolescent Case Manager for a SAMHSA funded juvenile drug court program. 

Jennifer received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Northern Kentucky University and also has a published article in the Journal of Neuropharmacology for research conducted while in school.  Jennifer is currently taking on the challenge of pursuing her Master’s degree in Social Work from NKU and plans to continue working with youth after she has graduated.  Jennifer recently received the 2011 CEO Choice Recipient Award through GCBHS for her work contributions with starting up the Clermont TIP program from implementation.

By:  Greg Pratt, LISW-S, TIP Team Supervisor, Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health

The TIP Program (Transition to Independence Process), provided here in Clermont County by Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services through Clermont FAST TRAC, has recently celebrated its one year of operation mark. TIP works with Youth/Young Adults between the ages of 16-21 to help them build skills to transition into adulthood more successfully. TIP utilizes an approach that helps the Youth/Young Adults identify and build on their own strengths, their own goals, their own hopes and dreams.  TIP’s role is to emphasize the choices and decision making power of each Youth/Young Adult.

The Youth/Young Adults in the program work one on one with a Transition Facilitator, who helps them develop plans around achieving their goals, identifying the people in their life that they would want to include in their plans and helping them to identify all possible options available to them (the good and bad ones).  TIP then allows them to make their own informed decision.  TIP stands by the Youth/Young Adults through the good and not-so-good decisions and allows them to experience the natural benefits and consequences of their choices.  TIP Youth who participate in the program have set and achieved goals in many areas, including living independently, finding and achieving employment, and continuing and completing their education, as well as more crisis oriented areas such as staying out of the psychiatric hospital and jail, and having fewer fights and arguments with family, friends or neighbors.  TIP offers Psychiatric and Counseling services for those who choose to explore those options.

To access TIP, the individual must meet some minimal criteria.  These criteria include,

• 16-21 years old,
• home residence of Clermont County,
• aging out of the Children’s Protective Services or Juvenile Court system,
• a mental health diagnosis,
• multi-need/ multi-system youth or eligible for multi–system services, and
• in need of additional support,
• at risk for out of home placement, or
• returning from out of home placement.

For more information about TIP or to make a referral please contact Greg Pratt at 513-354-1302. A referral form is also available on the Clermont FAST TRAC website http://www.clermontfasttrac.org.

By:  Gretchen Behimer, Project Director, Clermont FAST TRAC

In this issue of the FAST TRAC newsletter, the TIP program is highlighted.  The TIP program is for transition-aged youth, ages 16-21, to help them transition to adulthood with the skills necessary to be a productive member of our community. 

We know that “most 18-year-olds coming from intact families can expect emotional and financial support for years to come; in the U.S. the average age a young person with support leaves home is age 25.” (Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta website)  Many of the youth in “the system” have been in “the system” for many years, sometimes almost their entire lives.  The youth often have mental health challenges and have experienced childhood trauma. So, how can we expect youth aging out of the system to turn 18 with the skills necessary to live on their own, find a job, access services and be successful? 

We need to support these youth as they transition to adulthood and this is exactly what the TIP program does.  The TIP program follows the System of Care philosophies of youth-guided care, individualized care, utilizing natural supports, community-based care, culturally & linguistically competent care, strength-based care, and least restrictive care.  

Many of the youth currently in the TIP program have been in residential care and foster care for many years.  The transition to making their own decisions, learning to live on a budget, making meals, appropriately maintaining a living space and searching for and maintaining a job is not easy for anyone their age, especially those who may not have someone close to them that they can really talk to.  TIP offers the youth a person to support them through the learning process and cheer for them when achieve the goals that they have set for themselves.  To learn more about the TIP program, please take a look at Greg Pratt’s article.

By: Jean Houston, Lead Family Contact, Families Connected of Clermont County

Have you been hearing the phrase “Family-driven” in conversations recently?  Have any idea what that means regarding the provision of services to families?

The idea that forcing information or services on people and they will comply is, and has always been, contradictory to the human belief that we are all capable of making constructive choices about our own needs when given the facts to make an informed decision.  The expectation that if families follow all the instructions given to them without any input themselves, they will do well, is a changed concept in Clermont County!

We are developing a System of Care that values the family voice in the provision of services – “families are the expert and primary support of their children!”  They are part of the team, and their knowledge of their child is valued.

Making system change takes some time and we all have to be on board.  Families, too, must put aside the past and come into this process with a renewed faith that everyone wants success for their family.  They also must be able to actively work with a team approach to find solutions. 

Our FAST TRAC System of Care is not a service, but a philosophy of how services should be determined and delivered.  

The definition of Family-driven Care from the National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health is:

Family-driven means 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 in their community, state, tribe, territory and nation.

Join us at family events, share experiences with others or become a part of a workgroup to continue change in our County.

By: Mary Wolff, CLC Coordinator

How do I become more culturally competent?  The first place to start is always with yourself.  What is your cultural background?  Are there any family stories about how your family came to America?  It can be fascinating to learn about your family history.  Genealogy can be helpful and so can talking to family members, especially older ones.  What is your belief system and is it tied to an organized religion?  Faith-based communities are a source of values and beliefs about how to treat others.  As the holiday season approaches, take the time to notice the foods you eat, the traditions you share, and the people who make up your family.  Music, dance, and clothing…. all of these things are part of what makes you, you.   Looking at ourselves as people with many roles, beliefs, talents, even biases, begins to open the door of approaching others in a culturally and linguistically competent way.  If you are interested in learning more about other cultures, consider joining the Cultural Conversations activities sponsored by Clermont FAST TRAC.  For more information contact mwolff.ft@ccmhrb.org. 

By:  Gretchen Behimer, Project Director, Clermont FAST TRAC 

In this issue of the FAST TRAC newsletter, the Peer Support Partner program is highlighted.   If you  asked Jean Houston and Brenda Cox , Co-Founders of Families Connected, 3 years ago if they ever thought they would see the day where families, youth and professionals are working together so closely, all for the same purpose, I bet they would have said, “No way.”  This has always been the dream of Jean and Brenda, something that they have worked tirelessly for, but wondered if they would ever see the fruits of their labor.  Well, I believe that they would honestly say that we have come a long way in the last couple of years in regard to having families as an active part of their child’s team and sitting at the table, along with the professionals, giving input and information to workgroups and Family & Children First Council.

It has been a pretty amazing transformation that our county has begun and much of the credit needs to be given to the Peer Support Partners.  So who are the Peer Support Partners, you ask?  They are parents of children with behavioral health challenges.  They have worked to navigate the various systems (i.e. mental health, schools) and have done so successfully.  I like to say that they have “Been there, done that.”  Sometimes this is the best way to provide support to someone else, just by sharing some of the same experiences.

Rebecca Bishop, Peer Support Partner
FAST TRAC

Rebecca was the first person hired by the FAST TRAC System of Care to support families enrolled in the Wraparound process.  She is always looking for information to support families and is open to any type of training and information.

Rebecca is the mother of 7 children.  One of her children is affected by Autism and another has mental health issues.  Rebecca’s husband, James, has battled cancer on two occasions during the past four years and has undergone a bone marrow transplant.

Rebecca states, “Because my family has had so many challenges, becoming a peer support partner appeared to be a good job choice, and believe me it was, although it has really challenged me!    I love working with the families and am always learning something new.  I feel it gives me the opportunity to give back to the community as so much support was given to my family in our time of need.”