VISION
We envision healthy families strengthened by a responsive, collaborative, community-based system of care.

MISSION
Through trusting partnerships among families, the community, and public/private service providers, a system of care will provide comprehensive services and supports to children and their families.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES
1. Children should not be harmed.

2. Child and family serving organizations commit both financial and human resources to strengthen families.

3. Services and treatment build upon strengths and involve family and community supports.

4. Empowered families are key stakeholders in designing and implementing our local system of care and their child’s individualized plan.

5. We strive for community-based, most appropriate, least restrictive services by engaging the home, school, and community resources as the optimal method for providing care and support to children and families.

6. Positive outcomes are achieved through prevention, early intervention and other effective practices.

7. Services will be easily accessed through any organization within a well-integrated system of care.

8. People will be treated with respect and acceptance for diversity and family culture.

9. Children with emotional disturbances will be ensured seamless transitions to the adult services system as they reach maturity.

Family Level Goals

1. Our children and youth are kept in the community whenever possible.
Indicators:
* Out-of-county residential placements will decrease.
* Length of stay in out-of-county residential placements will decrease.

2. Families are supported in their efforts to meet the child’s goals and potential.
Indicators:
* Families report feeling supported.
* Families report they are getting the tools they need to help their child become a successful adult.
* Families learn to value and understand their uniqueness and to use it to successfully meet their goals.

3. Children and youth are successful at home, in the school, and in the community.
Indicator: CAFAS scores improve in the domains of home, school, and community.

System Level Goals

1. The system works together to best serve children, youth and their families.
Indicators:
* Partners write a single plan of service and support, with all responsibilities clearly indicated.
* A family provides their demographic information and social history only once.
* Families report that one phone call accesses help.

2. Access to CMH Children’s Services is improved.
Strategy: An agreed upon screening instrument with qualifying score will assure an assessment by CMH.
Indicator: A standardized screening tool is used by partnering organizations.

3. Parents and families have a strong voice.
Indicators:
* Families make up a minimum of 20% of participants at all planning groups, with a goal of 50%.
* Families are provided support, training, and mentoring to make their participation worthwhile and rewarding to all.
* Families receiving services and supports have another family or parent as “navigator,” advocate, and support.