Statewide Children's Wraparound Initiative Communication #1: Sept. 21, 2009 (PDF) New
Governor Ted Kulongoski issued an executive order in 2007 creating the Children's Wraparound Steering Committee, charging them with developing a statewide plan to provide integrated care for children with, or at risk of developing, significant emotional, behavioral or substance abuse problems.
"My vision is of an Oregon where every child is safe, healthy, ready for school and ready for life," said the governor. "This Order sets in motion the redesign of behavioral health service to provide early treatment and support in a personalized manner for young Oregonians across the state."
The Statewide Children’s Wraparound Initiative continues through legislation, formation of a Project Management Team, and development of an Implementation strategy. Subcommittees have addressed Information System Assessment, Market Assessment, Services and Supports, Fiscal Sustainability, Training, Evaluation and Accountability, and Agency Strategy. A final report was drafted in June 2009 detailing the recommendations of the Project Management Team utilizing the work of the subcommittees.
HB 2144 (Statewide Children’s Wraparound Initiative) passed the 2009 Legislature. It mandates that state agencies develop a system of care and that interagency pooling of resources take place. This legislation specifically directs child serving state agencies to organize and operate a system of care so that children and their families can receive integrated services and supports in their communities. Child serving state agencies include the Department of Human Services, Department of Education, Oregon Youth Authority and the Commission for Children and Families.
This action came as a result of many years of hard work by youth, families, treatment providers, and local and state agencies. System of care values and principles are a critical part of the legislation. This fall, the Children's Wraparound Initiative begins the initial phase of implementation.
Establishing the principles of the Children’s Wraparound initiative in law:
- Provides authority to partner agencies to combine funds;
- Provides rule making authority for agencies to operationalize the change;
- Gives clear legislative direction to reform the system of services and supports;
- Require systemic cultural change of the system in financing, organization, language, and training;
- Provide flexibility to community systems to integrate services and supports to achieve efficiency and effectiveness; and
- Provides a clear statement of the state’s intent to provide integrated services to children who are served by multiple agencies.
The beginning phase of the Children's Wraparound Initiative is to develop an integrated system of care to maximize positive outcomes for children with behavioral health care needs and who are in the custody of DHS. Many of these children have a history of adverse childhood experiences, including abuse and trauma, and are at risk for developing emotional, behavioral, and substance use related disorders. National research and experience in Oregon has demonstrated life changing benefits to an integrated approach to care.
Initially efforts will focus on children, from birth to age 18, who have been in the custody of DHS for more than one year and have had at least four placements or who come into custody and immediately need specialized behavioral health services and supports.
The initiative is under the joint sponsorship of Erinn Kelley-Siel, Assistant Director for Children, Adults and Families (CAF) and Richard Harris, Interim Assistant Director for Addictions and Mental Health (AMH). Implementation will be led by Toni Peterson of CAF and Bill Bouska of AMH. A DHS work team has been identified and is charged with developing mechanisms to integrate service delivery.
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