Overcoming Barriers to Mental Health Services for Foster

Children

Bruce D. FriedmanBarbara ReifelCheri Linde

Petra Gil-Vigie Anne Dancause-Twist

Jennifer ThompsonCalifornia State University, Bakersfield

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Joint International Conference of Social Work and Social

Development

Objectives

• Present a community collaborative pilot project that addresses a need

• Identify factors related to the problem• Identify solutions and steps taken • Present potential models that work

Problem

• Mental health services to children in foster care was below 30% penetration rate

• Mental health services for children under 5 was 0%

• Barriers between Child Welfare System and Mental Health System

• Can the University play a role to resolve?

Collaborative Process

• University initiated• Administrators from both Child Welfare and

Mental Health• Identified terminology barriers• Designed a pilot study where SW Department

will supervise cohort of students to provide mental health services to all 0 – 5 year olds in foster care

Additional Barriers Identified

• Different IMS (CWS-CMS; Anasazi)• Access to clientele– 0 – 5 logged in but end up in Emergency Foster

Care– Time lag between entry and logged into system– 90 day court order for screening (not sufficient

time)

Findings

• Monthly administrative meetings with decision makers

• Increased penetration rates• 90 Days not sufficient, change to 120 days for

initial assessment• Need for cross training on both IMS• Shared experiences between agency staff• Theoretical practice differences between MSW

and MFT

Conclusions and Next Steps

• University Dept. of SW facilitated change process

• Improved relationship between County agencies

• Continue the project– First year 4 students; second year 6 students; third

year 5 students

For more information contact

Bruce D. Friedman, PhDProfessor Social WorkCalifornia State University, Bakersfield9001 Stockdale HighwayBakersfield, CA 93311bfriedman@csub.edu661-654-2798