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September 4, 2008
Editors Note: What is New in PA’s Children’s System of Care?
Pennsylvania’s Secretaries of Public Welfare and Education have committed their departments to work for the wellness and resiliency of families and children. These two departments are responsible for PA’s Children’s System of Care, which includes all the public systems that serve children and adolescents. This month, PA Children’s News will report on reforms happening under the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS), Department of Public Welfare. OMHSAS is working to move all children’s services into alignment with Evidence Based Practices. This will improve outcomes for children and their families. This issue will detail those efforts.
Special Invitation to families from OMHSAS. If you have had Family Based Mental Health Service for Children and Adolescents, please consider completing the Family Based Survey in the following article. This survey will be anonymous.
Results will be shared with the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service. Your input will help in revising of the regulations, which govern this unique service. This is an opportunity for families and family supporters to interact directly with the state and to impact services for children and adolescents for many years to come.
Families without internet access should contact Wendy Luckenbill at 866-578-3659, extension 3.
TO TAKE THE SURVEY CLICK THIS LINK:
What is “Family Based Mental Health Service”?
“Family Based Mental Health Service” is a unique mental health service for children and their families. It is funded through Medical Assistance and is delivered by a team of two mental health clinicians in the home and community. It is distinct from the more general term of family based services, which includes Wraparound and other support services in the home.
Why are the Regulations Being Revised?
“Family Based Mental Health Service” was created in 1993. The goal is to bring this service, the only child mental health service regulated by the state, into alignment with evidence based practice. That means more standardization of practice and training, and more measurement. And better outcomes!
Note on the Regulatory Process
Families are being invited to comment in the original drafting of these new regulations, which is a great opportunity. Often the public must wait for the formal public comment period when regulations are published. It can take a long time for regulations to go through the writing and approval process and includes opportunities for public comment. Once the regulations receive final approval, they are likely to stay the same for a long time! That can be a good thing, but it also can make future reform more difficult. So, whatever we do with these regulations now, we want to get it right!
A full description of the regulatory process is available on the Independent Regulatory Review Commission website.