Connecting Children and Families to Care

Just as a safe reliable railway system depends on having sturdy and well-built tracks, Connecticut needs a well-built and connected system that supports all of its children and advances their mental, behavioral, social, and emotional well-being. 

Connecting to Care Initiative

Connecting to Care is a partnership that strives to build a system or “network of care” that meets the behavioral health needs of all children in our state. To do this, we partner with state, regional, and local behavioral health system leaders; providers that serve children, youth, and families; and family and community members. Our goal is to coordinate and integrate behavioral health services across child-focused systems, such as: early care and education, K-12 education, pediatric primary care, juvenile justice, child welfare, and more.

Workgroups

Connecting to Care operates workgroups to enhance the network of care infrastructure with a current focus in schools. Our workgroup meetings are open to the public. If you are interested in joining a workgroup contact the workgroup co-chairs.

Past Connecting to Care workgroups include:

• Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) (2019-2023)
• Data Integration (2014-2019)
• Fiscal Mapping (2014-2019)
• Early Identification and Screening (2014-2019)
• Network of Care Analysis (2014-2019)

Leadership and Partners

Connecting to Care was initially developed with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through a Connecticut Network of Care Transformation CONNECT I planning grant (2013) and CONNECT II implementation grant (2014-2019). Connecticut has received two rounds of sustainability funding: CONNECT III (2019-2023) and CONNECT IV (2023-2027), to expand the statewide, regional, and local network of care infrastructure.

The Connecting to Care initiative is operated by Connecting to Care’s grant-funded partners and overseen by the Connecting to Care Steering Team made up of a variety of family members and key stakeholders to provide oversight and support across implementation activities. The initiative also works closely with a consortium of 12 state agencies, Behavioral Health Plan Implementation partners, and statewide committees to advance children’s behavioral health system improvements.  

Grant-Funded Partners

The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the primary recipient of funding for the Connecting to Care initiative from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). DCF has statutory authority to provide children’s behavioral and mental health services statewide. DCF provides funding for a broad array of clinical and community-based services, including outpatient clinics for children, therapeutic group homes, extended day treatment programs, emergency mobile psychiatric services, respite care, family advocacy, intensive case management, and more.

Carelon Behavioral Health serves as the Administrative Services Organization for the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership, composed of the Connecticut Departments of Social Services (DSS), Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and Children and Families (DCF). Carelon’s Network of Care Managers provide technical assistance and support to regional networks of service providers, families, and community members across the state.

The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) is an organization that helps build and enhance trauma-informed and high-quality mental health systems, practices, and policies. CHDI serves as the Coordinating Center for the Connecting to Care initiative. As the Coordinating Center, CHDI provides: a) fiscal, administrative and logistical support, b) content expertise in systems of care development, implementation, and behavioral health systems integration, and c) leadership and governance support.

FAVOR, Inc. supports, trains, empowers, and advocates for families with children who have mental, emotional, or behavioral health challenges and/or developmental and intellectual disabilities. FAVOR Inc. collaborates with families and service providers to enhance community and program effectiveness and foster family involvement in decision-making tables about policies and practices that affect the well-being of our children.

The Yale University Consultation Center provides evaluation support to the Connecting to Care initiative. The Center offers a range of  services and related training to individuals, organizations and governmental agencies throughout Connecticut, the U.S. and internationally. The mission of the center is to promote health and wellness, prevent mental health and substance abuse problems and enhance equity and social justice.

Steering Team

Members of the Connecting to Care Steering Team serve as statewide system of care thought leaders and assist in supporting the development, implementation, and enhancement of policy and practice at local, regional, and statewide levels. This includes identifying strategies to spread and scale best practices related to system of care development and generating action for increased alignment across multiple state initiatives.

The Connecting to Care Steering Team also provides technical assistance, support, and feedback for ongoing system of care development across the CONNECT workgroups.

To learn more about the Connecting to Care Steering Team, please contact us at info@plan4children.org.  

Additional Materials