Description of Services - Connecticut House Democrats

COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES
SERVICE TYPES
Currently, DCF spends over $65 million a year to purchase a wide array of community-based
services for children and families. This figure does not include the cost of any residential
services, foster care or crisis stabilization. The following descriptions provide the detail on
services included in the assessment of resources throughout this document.
FAMILY PRESERVATION SERVICES
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs - Eighteen prevention programs serve youth ages 6 to 18
years old, through social skill training, wellness promotion, family involvement, peer interaction, and
community activities.
Respite - Six programs offer temporary care in the home or community to children and adolescents with
emotional and/or behavioral special needs in order to provide relief to their caregivers. Respite care is
intended for children involved with DCF and non-DCF children involved in the local system of care and is
intended to assist these children and youth to be maintained in their homes and communities. Services
are available statewide.
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION/TREATMENT SERVICES
Care Coordination – Eleven programs statewide support services for families aimed at coordinating
community-based services for children that have complex behavioral health needs. Children, ages 2-18,
receive services in the home, school, and other areas within the community. These programs follow the
KidCare philosophy of family-centered interventions.
Emergency Mobile Services - Eleven programs statewide provide crisis intervention and assessments
for children in the community including homes, schools, and other locations in the community. Services
include: 24-hour phone intervention to do triage; mobile assessment 10-7 daily and 1-7 on the weekend;
6-week crisis stabilization services, including referrals to longer-term treatment if necessary; and
medication evaluation.
Intensive In-Home - This clinical intervention offers services within the home, using the “Promising
Model” developed by Yale Child Study. Services are provided for 3-6 months for the child and their family
to prevent out of home placement or support transition from a hospital or detention or a residential
treatment center. Eighteen programs statewide follow one of three program models: Multidimensional
Family Therapy (MDFT); Intensive In-home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS); and
Family Functional Therapy (FFT).
Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) - Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is a home-based, evidence-based, and
family focused treatment service that targets the families of juvenile males and females up to the age of
17 with substance abuse and/or conduct disorder problems. Services are provided in the community
through four contracts serving all area offices statewide.
Outpatient Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs - Outpatient adolescent substance
abuse treatment and evaluation services are for adolescents who are at risk for substance abuse or are
substance abusers, inclusive of nicotine. Services include individual counseling, group therapy, and
community services. Six programs provide services to youth in all area offices statewide.
Child Guidance Clinics (CGC) are the primary contractual providers for outpatient mental health
services for children, youth and families. The target population is all children, youth, and families in need
of outpatient mental health services. However, priority access is given to DCF involved children and
families. DCF, and the child guidance clinics work together to emphasize a family, school, and
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community focus in the evaluation and treatment of children. There are 28 clinics statewide serving all
area offices.
Extended Day Treatment Programs provide a coordinated array of comprehensive therapeutic services
before and/or after school with the focus on treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation activities as
appropriate. It is for children who have returned home from out-of-home care or are at imminent risk of
placement due to mental health issues or emotional disturbance. This service is available to foster,
adoptive, and biological families and their children through nine programs serving all area offices.
Crisis Stabilization – Two contracts serving Manchester, New Britain, Hartford, New Haven, Middletown,
and Meriden provide evaluation and assessment, short-term residential treatment, and a cluster of
services, including clinical support, medication management, and aftercare to children and youth.
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Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services
( Unless otherwise noted, these programs are not accessible to children within the juvenile justice
population because of the funding source. Only adolescents involved through child welfare are eligible
for these services. If a child is dually committed, they are eligible.
1) Mentoring: Mentoring provides youth with a contact to their community other than the
Department of Children and Families (DCF) Social Worker. Mentors and youth work
together on a one-to-one basis to resolve issues identified by the youth. There are currently
eight federally funded, mentoring programs. The agency is in the process of centralizing all
foster care mentoring services. (accessible to JJ)
Mentoring is funded with State and Federal funds. For SFY 07, the Department has grants totaling
$254,070 in State funding and $333,494 of Federal. In addition to this, the Department, as part of the
Emily J settlement, funds Therapeutic Mentoring. This contract is for $76,125 and serves the Emily J
population.
In addition, the Department spent $4,915,931 in payments from LINK for SFY 06, of which
approximately $77,844 was for juvenile justice youth.
2) Youth Advisory Boards: Every area office has a Youth Advisory Board that is comprised of
youth in out-of-home care. The Youth Advisory Boards will address Department policies
and procedures involving youth issues and the unique problems of youth transitioning from
out-of-home care.
3) Life Skills Program: The Department offers community based life skills education and
training programs for youth in foster care and community settings. There are thirteen
contracted Life Skills Programs across Connecticut.
Life Skills contacts are funded via state and federal funds. SFY 07 State grants total $234,749 and
Federal grants total $273,502.
4) SWET Program: The Department provides a Supportive Work, Education and Transition
Program. Youth in this program, focus primarily on the development issues associated with
the acquisition of independent living skills, including but not limited to: interpersonal
awareness, community awareness and engagement, as well as maximization of
educational, vocational and pre-employment, and job placement opportunities. ( Seldom
used by JJ)
5) Preparing Adolescent for Self Sufficiency (PASS): Group Homes provide an environment
that fosters the maximization of individual outcomes in areas of education, vocation,
employability, independent living skills, health, mental health, community connections and
permanent connections. (Seldom used by JJ)
6) CHAP Program: The Department offers a Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)
that is a semi-supervised, subsidized, housing component for youth ready for less
supervision and more independence. The goal of this program is to increase competence,
self-reliance and self-sufficiency as youth transition into the least restricted out of home
placement within the agency.
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Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services
( Unless otherwise noted, these programs are not accessible to children within the juvenile justice
population because of the funding source. Only adolescents involved through child welfare are eligible
for these services. If a child is dually committed, they are eligible.
7) Re-Entry Program: A youth who is between the ages of eighteen and twenty one and who
has left the care of the Department may be eligible to re-enter the Adolescent Services
Program on a case-by-case basis in order to continue their education.
8) CHEER Career Track: The Department offers a Community, Housing, Educational and
Enrichment Resources (CHEER) program that provides financial assistance to youth,
eighteen years of age or older, who have graduated from high school or obtained a General
Equivalency Diploma (GED) and demonstrated an interest in pursing post high school
employment services and apprenticeship programs.
9) Post Secondary Education: DCF offers all our youth turning 18 the opportunity to continue
with services on a voluntary basis. This allows for youth to participate in educational and
training programs (e.g. college, vocational/trade schools, Job Corps, AmeriCorps) and
receive continued support from DCF.
10) Post Secondary Educational Support Program: DCF has recently hired two Pupil Services
Specialists to work within the Bureau to provide support to all DCF youth participating in the
Post Secondary Educational Program outlined in item 9. Positions will support our youth
and assist in maximizing their outcomes toward becoming successful adults.
11) Driver Education Program: DCF youth must successfully complete a certified driver’s
education program in order to obtain a driver’s permit or license. The Department will pay
fifty percent of the cost of the driver’s education program.
12) Jim Casey Initiative: This initiative is designed to insure that youth aging out of foster care
have increased opportunities for a successful transition to adulthood in the following areas:
youth leadership, youth engagement, employment, housing and physical and mental health.
The following programs are part of the initiative:
• Our Piece of the Pie (OPP) Program: OPP is a comprehensive work/learn model that helps youth to access
and attain a mix of educational, employment and personal development opportunities that lead to their
success.
• Family Services of Woodfield: Youth work along with technical experts and role models in a youth-centered
small business. They develop transferable skills, identify goals and reinforce the personal skills needed for
successful employment.
• New Haven Work/Learn: RFP to be issued early summer 2006 for new program in New Haven, consisting of
approximately 62 slots, to be opened by November 1, 2006. All program youth will be enrolled in the Jim
Casey initiative, taking part in financial literacy, life skills, educational, vocational, and employment
programming. This program involves unprecedented collaboration with multiple state and local agencies.
The program will incorporate physical and mental health, community engagement, and permanent personal
connections as goals into individual service planning. The program will be funded by DCF in conjunction
with the Workforce Alliance (DOL) in New Haven.
13) Department of Labor: The Department works in collaboration with the office of Workforce
Competitiveness and the Workforce Investment Boards, which assist youth and community
stakeholders in the planning and creating of employment opportunities for youth across
Connecticut. DCF Adolescent Services has recently become a strong partner with the
Department of Labor. (sometimes used by JJ)
14) Parenthood Program: The Department is developing an initiative to work
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Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services
( Unless otherwise noted, these programs are not accessible to children within the juvenile justice
population because of the funding source. Only adolescents involved through child welfare are eligible
for these services. If a child is dually committed, they are eligible.
with young mothers and fathers to improve the well being of their children by increasing
the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed mothers and
fathers. Focus groups are the primary driving force behind identifying and addressing gaps
in services. This information will later serve as a blue print for developing a comprehensive
service system for youth parents including: independent living skills, academic and
vocational interventions, service system, resources and support to increase parenting skills.
a. Fatherhood Program: The Department is developing an initiative to work with
young fathers to improve the well being of their children by increasing the
proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible and committed
fathers.
.
15) Black Greek Alliance: BGA is a group of DCF employees who are members of Black
fraternities and sororities. The employees seek to enhance youth engagement practices
and to provide advocacy towards educational achievement, job readiness/vocational skills
and social stability. This work targets youth of African American heritage in an attempt to
impact culturally relevant services including the disproportionate number of African
American youth in the child welfare system.
16) Wilderness School: The Wilderness School offers high impact wilderness programs in order
to foster positive youth development. The school is designed as a journey experience,
which is based on experiential and therapeutic learning models. (Sometimes used by JJ)
17) Safe Harbor Program: A collaboration between the Department and True Colors, Inc. The
program was created to provide culturally competent, affirming service training for foster
parents, adoptive parents and providers on issues regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual,
Transgender, Questioning and Inter-Sex youth. This program also provides continued
support to foster homes that provide care for LGBTQI youth. (used by JJ)
State funding of $23,296 is provided for this program.
18) Job Corps Program: A no cost educational and vocational training program, administered
by the U.S. Department of Labor that helps youth ages sixteen through twenty-three by
providing comprehensive job training and job placement. The Department presently has
twenty-five slots between the two Connecticut sites for DCF involved youth. There are other
locations in the New England area that can be accessed for youth who are interested in
training not offered at the Connecticut sites. (used by JJ)
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Bureau of Adolescent and Transitional Services Programs
Capacity
Community Programming:
Mentoring: One-on-One mentor matches – 265 (87 contracted slots open)
Work to Learn: New Haven (Under Development)-62 (All Casey)
Bridgeport -
100 (30 Casey)
Hartford -
120 (45 Casey)
Life Skills:
Youth being served in CLS programs – 238
Youth Conferences
True Colors Conference:
Youth participating in yearly conference – 66
Escheuchonos Conference:
Youth participating in yearly conference - 80
African American Conference:
Youth participating in yearly conference - 90
Living Responsibly Conference:
Youth participating in yearly conference – 150
Education
480 (Approximately) youth in Post secondary Education, including Tech School, 2 Year
colleges, 4 year colleges and Graduate school
Housing
CHAP: 122
Youth receiving Per Diem CHAP services – 119
Youth receiving Non-Pier Diem CHAP services – 3
TLAP:
Youth placed in TLAP programs – 27
SWET (Under Development) – 32
Preparing Adolescents for Self-Sufficiency - 11 PASS Group Homes
2 Maternity Group Homes
Youth Advisory Boards throughout the State of Connecticut
Jim Casey Initiative
• Our Piece of the Pie – 120 slots
• Family Services of Woodfield – 100 slots
• Marrakech – 63 slots
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Service Total
Type Slots
Intensive
In-Home
Functional
Family
Therapy
(FFT) 128
Intensive
In-Home
Family
Support
Team (FST) 224
JJ Slots
Intensive In Home Services
Annual
Capacity
Intensive
In-Home
Multi-
Dimensional
Family
Therapy -
(MDFT) 120 60 265
Intensive
In-Home
Multi-
Systemic
Therapy
(MST) 174 160 384
Hartford
Youth
Annualized
Funding
jj-eligible;
40
dedicated
slots 300 $1,535,000.00
DCF-jj
eligible 400 $7,293,000.00
JJeligible
500
Services=$1,465,808
QA=$236,150
Services=$3,488,443
+ QA=$463,886
(includes PSB)
Program
Locations
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
16 YOs
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
17 YOs
New London,
New Haven,
Manchester,
Waterbury 21 22
Manchester,
Hartford,
Bridgeport,
Danbury,
Norwich,
New Britain,
New Haven 21 22
Stamford,
Plainville,
Enfield,
Waterbury,
New Haven &
Hartford 21 22
Bloomfield,
New Haven,
Norwalk,
Oakdale,
Hartford,
Waterbury,
Bridgeport &
Plainville 21 22
Project 60 36 100 Services=$650,000 Hartford 2 2
Milford,
Bridgeport,
Hartford,
Intensive
New London,
Essex,
In-home
Waterbury,
Child and
Manchester,
Adolescent
Norwalk,
Danbury,
Psychiatric
Middletown,
Service
4,575,000 (includes New Britain,
(IICAPS) 250
transfer to DSS) New Haven 21 22
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Service
Type
Total
Slots JJ Slots
Annual
Capacity
Intensive
In-home
Family
Based
Recovery
(FBR) 60 0 60
Intensive
In-home
Building
Stronger
Families
(BSF) 12 0 20
Intensive In Home Services
Annualized
Funding
Annualized services
for 5 teams + QA =
$1,605,000
Program
Locations
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
16 YOs
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
17 YOs
Norwich,
Bridgeport,
New Haven,
Waterbury &
New Britain NA NA
Services=$355,250
+ QA=$74,927 Plainville NA NA
Respite 180 $120,000.00 89 87
Outpatient
Clinics for
Children
(OPCC) NA NA 13,000 $11,000,000.00
KidCare
EMPS & CC are
Care
blended into one
Coordination 696 0 1392 contract - 13.5 Mil.
KidCare
Extended
Day
Treatment
(EDT) 432 0 864 $7,000,000.00
KidCare
Family
Advocacy 120 240
KidCare
Emergency
Mobile
Psychiatric
Service
(EMPS) NA 6000
Kid Care
Crisis
Stabilization. 72 72 $1,800,000.00
Statewide 25
clinics 25 22
Statewide 25
collaboratives 28 18
Statewide in
16 programs 20 59
Statewide -
limited
capacity 9 10
EMPS & CC are
blended into one
contract - $13.5 Mil. Statewide NA NA
Farmington &
Hamden NA NA
Outpatient NA 50% est. 681 Services=$1,282,974 Willimantic, 18 12
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Intensive In Home Services
Service
Type
Substance
Abuse
Total
Slots
JJ Slots
Annual
Capacity
Annualized
Funding
Program
Locations
Middletown,
Meriden,
Waterbury,
Hamden,
Bridgeport,
Norwich &
Hartford
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
16 YOs
Median
Number
of Days
Wait for
Service
17 YOs
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