A comprehensive spectrum of mental health & essential support services organized into a coordinated network to address/meet the varied needs of children, youth, & young adults at risk for or with Serious Emotional Disorders (SED)s, families, & caregivers. A system of care is a spectrum of effective community-based services and supports for children, youth, and young adults with or at risk for mental health and related challenges and their families that is organized into a coordinated network, builds meaningful partnerships with families and youth, and addresses their cultural and linguistic needs in order to help them function better at home, in school, in the community, and throughout life. The purpose of the system of care is to seamlessly integrate social and emotional wellness services and practices into all aspects of the care system and to ensure understanding of and access to holistic care, services, resources and supports for children, youth and their families. The core functions of the expanded SOC include the following:
1. Collaboration and Alignment
Ensure/facilitate collaboration across child-serving systems
2. Comprehensive Strategic Financing
Develop and sustain a comprehensive, braided public-private funding strategy
3. Monitoring and Evaluation of the Children’s Behavioral Health Service Array
Monitor and evaluate the access and availability of mental health and substance use services and supports for children engaged in any child serving system in the St. Policy Advocacy and Support
Promote and advance policy that facilitates and reinforces cross-system collaboration and alignment
5. Family and Youth Engagement
Ensure all SOC-related policies, programs and supports are family-driven, youth-guided, community-based, trauma responsive and culturally and linguistically competent