The Building Bridges Self Assessment Tool:A Framework for Organizational Improvement

IARCCA Annual Conference – September 21, 2010

Presented by:Marvin Alexander, LMSWYouth MOVE National/ Mid-South Health Systems, Inc.

Jody Levison-Johnson, LCSWCoordinated Care Services, Inc.

Overview

Mission Identify and promote practice and policy

initiatives that will create strong and closely coordinated partnerships and collaborations between families, youth, community- and residentially-based treatment and service providers, advocates and policy makers to ensure that comprehensive services and supports are family-driven, youth-guided, strength-based, culturally and linguistically competent, individualized, evidence and practice-informed, and consistent with the research on sustained positive outcomes.

•Began in November 2005•National Steering Committee formed•Three National Summits held (2006, 2007,

2010)•Workgroups:▫Cultural & Linguistic Competence▫Outcomes▫Youth/Family Partnerships▫Social Marketing

•Documents to support the field:▫ Joint Resolution (JR)▫Matrix/Self Assessment Tool (SAT)▫Family & Youth Tip Sheets

•Website: www.buildingbridges4youth.org

Highlights

•Family Driven & Youth Guided Care•Cultural & Linguistic Competence•Clinical Excellence & Quality Standards•Accessibility & Community Involvement•Transition Planning & Services (between

settings & from youth to adulthood)

Core Principles

What is the SAT?A tool that:• Assesses current activities against best practices consistent

with the BB Joint Resolution• Sparks dialogue between staff, community partners, families

and youth• Supports quality improvement specifically in the areas of:▫ Care transitions▫ Family driven & youth guided care▫ Program policies & practice

• Promotes out of the box thinking about residential▫ Beyond bricks and mortar▫ Something we do with youth and families vs. a place

Who is the SAT for?

•Designed to be used with groups of:▫Residential staff▫Community staff▫Advocates▫Youth▫Families▫Funders/ oversight agencies

What does the SAT include?Sections on the following areas:• Child & Family Team • Family Driven Practices • Youth Guided Practices • Cultural & Linguistic Competence • Entry Into Residential Treatment • During Residential Treatment • Post-Residential Treatment • Community System of Care • Performance and Evaluation in the System of Care

There is also a glossary that defines terms used throughoutthe SAT.

How can the SAT be used?

•Internal staff development and training▫Simulation (role-playing) exercises▫In staff or community meetings for discussion

•As the basis for an exit interview•For quality improvement (QI) discussions

with agency staff & community partners•In a formal agency assessment process•As part of a learning collaborative at a local,

regional or state level

Monroe County, NY

•It’s kind of long, how can you use it?•It feels sort of complicated to use with

youth and families, any suggestions?•What if we aren’t doing Child & Family

Teams before, during and after residential?•What’s the point?

3. Youth-Guided Practices 1 2 3 4 5 Don’t Know/

Doesn’t Apply Never/

Almost Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often Always/

Almost Always 1. The goals of the treatment plan are based on the

youth’s own goals.

2. If they are able, youth guide the Child and Family Team meetings.

3. Youth develop full understanding of the treatment plan.

4. Youth are involved in everyday decision-making about their care.

5. Peer advocates support youth in: a. Treatment Planning b. returning to the community c. transition to post-residential placement

6. Youth have a voice in selecting members of their Child and Family Team.

Discussion

•How did it go?•What challenges did you experience?•What challenges might others with

different roles experience?•How can you envision using this

within your setting?

Marvin Alexandermarvincalexander@yahoo.com

Jody Levison-JohnsonJlevison-johnson@ccsi.org