2024 advocacy piece

7 New Jersey’s Children and Youth Are Worthy of Full Investment in the Children’s System of Care Reports on the high levels of anxiety, depression and other disorders among children and youth continue, always noting the significant rise in the acuity being seen in emergency rooms and elsewhere. New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care (CSOC) is unique in its structure and success in providing children and families with needed services. However, in the face of rising demand that continues well beyond the current capacity of CSOC, further investment is needed to strengthen the system. NJAMHAA recommends a 7% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for all CSOC rates and contracts. All Children’s Programs Must Be Sustainable to Provide the Appropriate Array of Services at the Appropriate Time CARE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS Care Management Organizations (CMOs) are a critical component of CSOC. They coordinate the delivery of services through the Child/Family Team process and the wraparound approach to planning. They provide assessment and comprehensive planning for each youth and their family, and develop strategies and supports that help youth maintain stability. CMOs have seen a 21% increase in their average census from March 2020 to March 2023. Their current per child/per month rate is $982. Despite rate increases in recent years, it is currently still below the rate of $1,034 CMOs were reimbursed over a decade ago. In order to recruit and retain the staff needed to meet current demand and cover inflationary increases to the cost of care, the per child/per month rate for CMOs should be raised to $1,200. Based on an average monthly census of 18,000 children, this would require an additional investment of approximately $32 million (state and federal), over and above the 7% COLA . At 10 years old, Zhan was referred by an inpatient child psychiatric unit to CFG Health Network’s A Step Ahead Elmer program. The treatment team was told that Zhan would most likely be residential bound when she finished the program. However, through intensive behavior modification; structure; group and family therapy; medication management; and the unwavering support and advocacy from the treatment team, Zhan was able to achieve a complete turnaround. Her mood stabilized and for the first time, she felt like she had succeeded at something. She became a role model for her peers and a leader in the program, and she graduated from A Step Ahead Elmer at the highest level.