NNews-July-2023

4 July 2023 EVOLVING OVER THE YEARS The CMOs were created as a part of New Jersey’s Children’s Systemof Care (CSOC), which was also established in 2001. “CMOs have the greatest footprint in the CSOC,” according to DeStefano. Before 2001, the state had partial care programs for youth in some counties, in-home services were available in some areas, andmany children’s services were housed within adult programs. “This was one of the things we really wanted to have an impact on: services that only focus on children,” said DeStefano, who is also a long-time NJAMHAA Board member and Co-chair of NJAMHAA’s Children’s Practice Group. “Once wemoved from theMedicaidmedical model to a rehabilitative model, which is much more flexible, we were allowed to bill for treatment homes and in-home therapy. This is so important for children who are at high risk of psychiatric hospitalization or other out-of-home treatment,” DeStefano said. “The CSOC made behavioral health care with mobile crisis services, care management, residential care and family support available to every child at no cost to the families. This comprehensive care was designed to prevent hospitalizations, extended out-of-home treatment, juvenile detention and special education,” Collins stated, noting that these outcomes save the state significant amounts of money in addition to opening paths to success for youth. Gorman added that before the CSOC was developed, “many families had to go through the Division of Youth and Family CMOs Empower Youth and Families to Improve Health and Achieve Many other Goals (continued frompage 1) Services (DYFS) to get treatment for their children. Then, the state decided to carve out the clinical piece and have DYFS, now the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, focus on neglect and abuse and have the CSOC be the one place to coordinate care with one clear plan for each child. We have played a significant role in keeping children in their homes and communities,” she said. SERVING YOUTHWITH A BROAD RANGE OF NEEDS CMOs serve youth with mental illnesses, substance use disorders (SUD), intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/ DD) and any combinations of health conditions, as well as various challenging situations, including involvement with the juvenile justice system. The teams identify the youth and families’ strengths, goals and interests, and develop individual plans with a variety of partners, including agencies that provide mental healthcare, SUD and/or I/DD services, as well as organizations that offer what each child is interested in, such as gyms, music and art classes, and summer camps. In addition to CMO staff and partner organizations, teams can include individuals who are involved in the youth and families’ lives on an informal basis, such as cops who volunteer and school staff. “Child-family teams can start by being formal and gradually become more informal. There’s a greater chance of sustainability because informal supports are more likely to stick around,” DeStefano said. Alan DeStefano, MSW Robyn Gorman, MA, LPC Kathy Collins, LCSW