Imagine yourself as the parent of a child who has just been diagnosed as ADHD or Bipolar. Imagine having never heard these terms before. Imagine the administration for Children’s Services investigative team coming to your home to inquire about your ability to parent your child. Imagine the Board of Education telling you that your child cannot handle the “regular education” setting and needs to be evaluated for special education.
Now imagine that all of these things are happening at the same time. How might you feel? Confused. Intimidated. Frustrated. Angry. Scared. It is important to realize that this is happening to many children and families throughout New York City. In this type of situation, both communication and collaboration between child-serving systems must be encouraged.
There is a new and exciting collaboration between the Manhattan Parent Resource Center and the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative that is working hard to decrease the negative experiences families have with child-serving systems. It is the mission of both the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center to work closely with families who are involved with multiple systems and are in need of assistance and/or encouragement while navigating these large child-serving groups. Through advocacy and a Manhattan Family Network (strength-based assessment) families are reporting that their situation becomes more clear and they become motivated to take steps towards positive change for their families.
Let us look at an example. A fifteen-year-old has behavioral outbursts at school. He is constantly in fights and disruptive in class. One day a teacher grabs his arm to redirect him. The child reacts violently striking the teacher. The teacher presses charges and the child is expelled from school. The child’s mother is worried, but is not sure what to do or where to turn. She is working full-time and is under a lot of pressure. She is a single parent and she must not lose her job. After the assault charges are filed, the Department of Juvenile Justice becomes involved with the case. The child must do community service and go to counseling to focus on anger management. In addition, now that the case has received so much attention, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has noticed that the child missed numerous days of school. ACS cites the child’s mother for educational neglect. This increases the mother’s stress and she is feeling frustrated and extremely overwhelmed.
This is a common scenario that involves many systems. Let’s see how it involves all social systems. We must first consider or assess the psychological make-up of the child and determine at what point we need to make a proper intervention. The parent contacts the Parent Resource Center (a center that prides itself in educating parents on their rights and current child-serving policies and supporting parents as they navigate systems) and says, “I can’t take it anymore. My son is out of control. He was kicked out of school. Now they are trying to blame me for it. I didn’t do anything wrong. He hit the teacher and the Juvenile Justice system is involved now. I don’t want my son to be locked up. What should I do?”
After the parent’s acute anxieties are quelled, the parent advocate invites them to a support group at the center and redirects them to a new initiative in Manhattan known as the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI). This is a process that deals with families whose children are involved with multiple macro systems such as the Board of Education, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and/or Child Welfare. Once the CCSI team is involved, a Family Network is developed to ensure that all systems continue to share information in a constructive manner to reach the needs that the family has identified themselves. Network is a process that is strength-based and family driven. Network also utilizes the wrap-around process to create a “support circle” for the family. When a family begins the Network process, a parent advocate becomes involved. The parent advocate acts as a liaison for the parent and child in helping them navigate the various systems with which they are involved.
Through contacting the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center or the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative, families can begin to work with professionals together to strengthen their family and keep their child well. We are excited about the work we are doing at the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. Similar collaborations exist in the other boroughs of New York City. Contact names are as follows:
* Manhattan—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Manhattan Parent Resource Center—Terril Pile
* Brooklyn—CCSI Coordinator Dolores Tibbets, 212-254-0333 ext.220; Brooklyn Parent Resource Center, 718-604-8800—Maxine Barnett
* Bronx—CCSI Coordinator Annabella Escobar, 212-254-0333 ext.250; Bronx Parent Resource Center, 718-731-4673—Bernadine Meeks
* Queens—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Queens Parent Resource Center, 718-526-0722 ext.235—Ceceile Green
* Plans for the initiative are being developed in Staten Island
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Coordinated Children's Services Initiative
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Coordinated Children's Services Initiative
Imagine yourself as the parent of a child who has just been diagnosed as ADHD or Bipolar. Imagine having never heard these terms before. Imagine the administration for Children’s Services investigative team coming to your home to inquire about your ability to parent your child. Imagine the Board of Education telling you that your child cannot handle the “regular education” setting and needs to be evaluated for special education.
Now imagine that all of these things are happening at the same time. How might you feel? Confused. Intimidated. Frustrated. Angry. Scared. It is important to realize that this is happening to many children and families throughout New York City. In this type of situation, both communication and collaboration between child-serving systems must be encouraged.
There is a new and exciting collaboration between the Manhattan Parent Resource Center and the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative that is working hard to decrease the negative experiences families have with child-serving systems. It is the mission of both the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center to work closely with families who are involved with multiple systems and are in need of assistance and/or encouragement while navigating these large child-serving groups. Through advocacy and a Manhattan Family Network (strength-based assessment) families are reporting that their situation becomes more clear and they become motivated to take steps towards positive change for their families.
Let us look at an example. A fifteen-year-old has behavioral outbursts at school. He is constantly in fights and disruptive in class. One day a teacher grabs his arm to redirect him. The child reacts violently striking the teacher. The teacher presses charges and the child is expelled from school. The child’s mother is worried, but is not sure what to do or where to turn. She is working full-time and is under a lot of pressure. She is a single parent and she must not lose her job. After the assault charges are filed, the Department of Juvenile Justice becomes involved with the case. The child must do community service and go to counseling to focus on anger management. In addition, now that the case has received so much attention, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has noticed that the child missed numerous days of school. ACS cites the child’s mother for educational neglect. This increases the mother’s stress and she is feeling frustrated and extremely overwhelmed.
This is a common scenario that involves many systems. Let’s see how it involves all social systems. We must first consider or assess the psychological make-up of the child and determine at what point we need to make a proper intervention. The parent contacts the Parent Resource Center (a center that prides itself in educating parents on their rights and current child-serving policies and supporting parents as they navigate systems) and says, “I can’t take it anymore. My son is out of control. He was kicked out of school. Now they are trying to blame me for it. I didn’t do anything wrong. He hit the teacher and the Juvenile Justice system is involved now. I don’t want my son to be locked up. What should I do?”
After the parent’s acute anxieties are quelled, the parent advocate invites them to a support group at the center and redirects them to a new initiative in Manhattan known as the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI). This is a process that deals with families whose children are involved with multiple macro systems such as the Board of Education, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and/or Child Welfare. Once the CCSI team is involved, a Family Network is developed to ensure that all systems continue to share information in a constructive manner to reach the needs that the family has identified themselves. Network is a process that is strength-based and family driven. Network also utilizes the wrap-around process to create a “support circle” for the family. When a family begins the Network process, a parent advocate becomes involved. The parent advocate acts as a liaison for the parent and child in helping them navigate the various systems with which they are involved.
Through contacting the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center or the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative, families can begin to work with professionals together to strengthen their family and keep their child well. We are excited about the work we are doing at the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. Similar collaborations exist in the other boroughs of New York City. Contact names are as follows:
* Manhattan—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Manhattan Parent Resource Center—Terril Pile
* Brooklyn—CCSI Coordinator Dolores Tibbets, 212-254-0333 ext.220; Brooklyn Parent Resource Center, 718-604-8800—Maxine Barnett
* Bronx—CCSI Coordinator Annabella Escobar, 212-254-0333 ext.250; Bronx Parent Resource Center, 718-731-4673—Bernadine Meeks
* Queens—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Queens Parent Resource Center, 718-526-0722 ext.235—Ceceile Green
* Plans for the initiative are being developed in Staten Island
Now imagine that all of these things are happening at the same time. How might you feel? Confused. Intimidated. Frustrated. Angry. Scared. It is important to realize that this is happening to many children and families throughout New York City. In this type of situation, both communication and collaboration between child-serving systems must be encouraged.
There is a new and exciting collaboration between the Manhattan Parent Resource Center and the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative that is working hard to decrease the negative experiences families have with child-serving systems. It is the mission of both the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center to work closely with families who are involved with multiple systems and are in need of assistance and/or encouragement while navigating these large child-serving groups. Through advocacy and a Manhattan Family Network (strength-based assessment) families are reporting that their situation becomes more clear and they become motivated to take steps towards positive change for their families.
Let us look at an example. A fifteen-year-old has behavioral outbursts at school. He is constantly in fights and disruptive in class. One day a teacher grabs his arm to redirect him. The child reacts violently striking the teacher. The teacher presses charges and the child is expelled from school. The child’s mother is worried, but is not sure what to do or where to turn. She is working full-time and is under a lot of pressure. She is a single parent and she must not lose her job. After the assault charges are filed, the Department of Juvenile Justice becomes involved with the case. The child must do community service and go to counseling to focus on anger management. In addition, now that the case has received so much attention, the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) has noticed that the child missed numerous days of school. ACS cites the child’s mother for educational neglect. This increases the mother’s stress and she is feeling frustrated and extremely overwhelmed.
This is a common scenario that involves many systems. Let’s see how it involves all social systems. We must first consider or assess the psychological make-up of the child and determine at what point we need to make a proper intervention. The parent contacts the Parent Resource Center (a center that prides itself in educating parents on their rights and current child-serving policies and supporting parents as they navigate systems) and says, “I can’t take it anymore. My son is out of control. He was kicked out of school. Now they are trying to blame me for it. I didn’t do anything wrong. He hit the teacher and the Juvenile Justice system is involved now. I don’t want my son to be locked up. What should I do?”
After the parent’s acute anxieties are quelled, the parent advocate invites them to a support group at the center and redirects them to a new initiative in Manhattan known as the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative (CCSI). This is a process that deals with families whose children are involved with multiple macro systems such as the Board of Education, Juvenile Justice, Mental Health and/or Child Welfare. Once the CCSI team is involved, a Family Network is developed to ensure that all systems continue to share information in a constructive manner to reach the needs that the family has identified themselves. Network is a process that is strength-based and family driven. Network also utilizes the wrap-around process to create a “support circle” for the family. When a family begins the Network process, a parent advocate becomes involved. The parent advocate acts as a liaison for the parent and child in helping them navigate the various systems with which they are involved.
Through contacting the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. and the Manhattan Parent Resource Center or the Coordinated Children’s Services Initiative, families can begin to work with professionals together to strengthen their family and keep their child well. We are excited about the work we are doing at the Mental Health Association of New York City, Inc. Similar collaborations exist in the other boroughs of New York City. Contact names are as follows:
* Manhattan—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Manhattan Parent Resource Center—Terril Pile
* Brooklyn—CCSI Coordinator Dolores Tibbets, 212-254-0333 ext.220; Brooklyn Parent Resource Center, 718-604-8800—Maxine Barnett
* Bronx—CCSI Coordinator Annabella Escobar, 212-254-0333 ext.250; Bronx Parent Resource Center, 718-731-4673—Bernadine Meeks
* Queens—CCSI Coordinator Michelle Munson, 212-254-0333 ext.240; Queens Parent Resource Center, 718-526-0722 ext.235—Ceceile Green
* Plans for the initiative are being developed in Staten Island
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