Out of home placement is a poor choice for children. Children do best when living with their family and in their community. Unfortunately, in Pennsylvania and nationally, there are still not enough supports and programs to make that a possibility for all children. While we have made it possible for children with severe physical needs and developmental disabilities to avoid institutionalization, we are still challenged to keep children with behavioral problems at home.

That’s why all the systems at the state and local level are partnering to divert children from placement. The following is an overview, by system, of the best in community based service reform occurring in the Commonwealth.

Because programs and policies are evolving monthly to embrace this reform at the local level, families should contact their local Children’s Mental Health/ Child & Adolescent Service System (CASSP) Coordinator to learn about availability of programs that keeps children home and gives them access to the best of the current continuum of care.

Juvenile Justice

Counties are working to divert youth away from placement, and keep them in their homes and communities.  These goals are best served when juvenile justice partners with families and youth to develop child centered, family driven services, approaches, and policies that focus on accountability and competency for youth.

Look for evidence based practices including:

Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)

FGDM is not a service but a powerful process to help families develop effective plans to help their children in a true partnership with agency staff.  The PA Office of Children, Youth, and Families has required that all counties develop this program for families served by Child Welfare.  Additionally many counties are offering this process to families and their youth served by Juvenile Probation.

Mental Health and Drug Courts

These are specialized court processes that allow youth to have their mental health or drug problems addressed through treatment and supports rather than purely punishment.

High Fidelity Wraparound

Just beginning in many PA counties, this program is an evidence-based version of what began as an effort to wrap services around a family and child, and ended up as our Rehabilitation Services, i.e. Mobile Therapy, Behavioral Specialists, and Therapeutic Staff Support.

Evening Reporting Centers

Berks County is leading the way in offering youth and their families an alternative to detention when the child is in conflict with the law.  The Center allows youth to remain in their school and home, while working on their court ordered plan.

Child Welfare

  • Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)
    (See High Fidelity Wraparound under Juvenile Justice, above)

Mental Health

  • High Fidelity Wraparound
    (See High Fidelity Wraparound under Juvenile Justice, above)
  • Best Practice Guidelines for Family Involvement with Youth who are in Residential Treatment Facilities (RTF’s)This summer the PA Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services issued a State Bulletin titled Best Practice Guidelines for Family Involvement with Youth who are in Residential Treatment Facilities. The Office is now working with family advocates to develop a Family Toolkit for Residential Treatment Facilities, which will help families effectively use this service for their child.The state Bulletin is for providers and users of children’s residential treatment services.  The purpose of this bulletin is to outline Best Practice Guidelines for family involvement with youth who are in residential treatment facilities. The bulletin clearly defines the problems related to residential treatment models. When no other option can keep a child safe, families and agencies still need to choose a residential facility. These guidelines provide approaches that improve the outcomes for children using these services.