INTEGRATION AND COLLABORATION: A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TREATMENT APPROACH TO

MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILY.Sabrina Pooran LMHC, CAP

Child Welfare Program Manager

DACCO Behavioral Health, Hillsborough County

Anthony Comito, CWCM-S

Program Director

Case Management, Devereux, Hillsborough County

Learning Objectives1.Participants will recognize the importance of a multi-

disciplinary approach to support and advocate for families with

substance use issues in the child welfare system.

2.Participants will learn how collaboration and communication

across stakeholders is important for the well-being of the entire

family.

3.Participants will understand strategies of all systems working

toward one goal for the family.

WHY IS INTEGRATION IMPORTANT?

❖ Didn’t use words like “Integration” and “Collaboration” in

past

❖ New norm for case managers

❖ Improve parenting capacity while decreasing child abuse

❖ Collaboration is crucial to children’s safety, behavioral health treatment, protective capacity and adult functioning

HOW WE INTEGRATED

❖ DACCO Behavioral Health created Child Welfare Division

❖ Established relationships existed

❖ Co-Location of behavioral health staff

❖ Improved collaboration and communication

❖ FITT (Family Intensive Treatment Teams)

THE FITT MODEL

❖ Clinician, FITT CM and Peer Support Specialist

❖ Individualized treatment approach

❖ Partnership with case management

❖Assess progress in meeting conditions for return

❖ Formal and informal supports.

FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS

❖ Initial and every 30 days

❖ Participants involved

❖ Reflect on progress for last month

❖ Set goals for next month

❖ Review appointments for children, court and staffings

ATTENDANCE AT COURT AND STAFFINGS

❖ Permanency staffings: Determine conditions for return

❖ Collaborate/Partnership ❖ Safety planning❖ FITT supports case management during court hearings

and acts as subject matter expert❖ Documentation provides ongoing information❖ Treatment staffings: Less formal/reinforce CPC’s and

conditions for return

HOW COLLABORATION HELPED

❖ Treatment staffing at home

❖ Cultural sensitivity

❖Align with peer

❖ Challenge with drug screens.

WHERE IS THIS FAMILY NOW?

❖ Sober

❖ Living in 3 bedroom home

❖ Steady employment

❖ Reunified with all 9 children

❖ Had newborn during services that was NOT removed.

A CHALLENGING STORY

TREATMENT PLANNING

❖ Use CPC’s from FFA-I and FFA-O to build treatment plan.

❖ Report on specific behavior changes on monthly report from FITT to case management.

CHILDREN’S NEEDS

❖ FITT partners with case management in getting parents ready for reunification.

❖ Coordinate parent’s attendance at MH and medical appointments.

❖ Discussed at FTM’s

VISITATION AND PARENTING NEEDS

❖ FITT attends visitation to observe and assess

❖ Tailor parenting to specific needs

❖ Receive and provide feedback to/from case management

OUR CHALLENGES

❖ HIPPA and 42CFR

❖Staff turnover

❖Timelines of both systems

❖Lack of understanding

SOLUTIONS

❖ Better communication

❖ Escalate to leadership

❖ Crossover training

❖ Informal education at staffings, etc.

THANK YOU!!