DDES Numbered Memo Series 2007-05 and DCFS Memo 2007-07
To: Listserv
For: Area Administrators / Human Services Area Coordinators
Bureau Directors
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of
Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human
Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
Licensing Chiefs / Section Chiefs
Tribal Chairpersons / Human Services
Facilitators
From: William R. Fiss, Interim Administrator
Division of Children and
Family Services
Sinikka Santala Administrator
Division of Disability and Elder Services
Document Summary
This memo describes the process for tribal and county child welfare
agencies to apply for funding to participate in a mental health and
substance abuse screening pilot project for children and families involved
in the child welfare system. Proposals and requests for funding are due to
the Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services by April 27,
2007. Announcement of successful candidates will be made by May 9,
2007.
Introduction
The Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has partnered with
the Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (BMHSAS) in
developing a simple and effective mental health and substance abuse
screening tool for children in the child welfare system. National studies
show that many children entering the child welfare system have
unrecognized and untreated mental health and substance abuse (MH or SA)
issues. Improving recognition and treatment of mental health and substance
abuse issues of children in the child welfare system is part of
Wisconsin's Children and Family Services Plan (CFSP), a five-year plan for
the state, county, and tribal partners to improve child safety,
permanency, and well-being.
Counties and tribes are encouraged to submit applications to pilot the
use of Wisconsin's Mental Health Screening Tool
(MHST), adapted from the
California Institute of Mental Health Screening Tool. This brief screening
tool includes two versions: the first is designed to identify children up
to 5 years old who are in most urgent need of a more thorough mental
health screening or assessment while the second serves the same purpose
for children 5 years and older. In cases where the MHST for ages 5 and
over identifies possible abuse of alcohol and/or drugs by a child 12 years
of age or older, the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs - Short Screener
(GAIN-SS) will be used as a supplemental child self-report screening tool.
A copy of Wisconsin's MHST and the GAIN-SS is attached. (See attachment
A.)
Pilot opportunities will be offered to counties or tribes willing to
implement the tool as part of the Child Protective Services Initial
Assessment and Ongoing Services processes, collect data, and provide
feedback on its application and efficacy. This feedback will assist the
Department of Health and Family Services in learning about the
effectiveness of the screening tool and in determining how it might be
implemented statewide.
Preference will be given to county or tribal child welfare agencies
that describe coordinated efforts between child welfare and mental health
or Indian Health agencies (which includes traditional tribal healing
practices) that result in the provision of treatment services for
children.
The DCFS and the BMHSAS will provide training on the use of the MHST
and the GAIN-SS and support county or tribal staff in attending training
events, participating in work groups, and building the multidisciplinary,
collaborative infrastructure necessary to address mental health needs or
substance abuse issues of children involved with the child welfare system.
The DHFS has $38,000 available to provide funding to a small number of
counties or tribes to pilot the MHST and develop local screening and
assessment processes. This application process will also be used to rank
and select additional counties or tribes to pilot the MHST as additional
funding becomes available.
Please provide an application of no more than 5 pages (exclusive of the
budget page):
Program Narrative
1. Agency Description/Statement of Need ...15 points
- Describe the
agency structure. How many staff will participate in this project? Include
staff experiences with collaboration and/or wraparound processes.
- Provide a description of the county's or tribe's experience with
cross-system collaboration and how the wraparound process will be
incorporated throughout this pilot. Discuss agency strengths, gaps, or
barriers in providing coordinated services to children in the child
welfare system.
2. Target Population…10
points
Describe the target population to be served (differentiate Child
Protective Services from Delinquency cases). Indicate the number of
children served by your child welfare system/agency in a year. Indicate
the number of children in the last year who received a MH or SA screening,
the number referred for MH or SA services (further assessment or
evaluation), and the number of children receiving MH and/or SA treatment.
3. Proposed Implementation Approach ... 25 points
Describe how the MHST
will be implemented and identify agency needs to prepare staff to use the
MHST. Discuss how the screening process will be integrated into the
agency's child welfare practice and describe any organizational changes
needed to assure successful implementation.
4. Collaboration…
25 points
- Describe how the child welfare agency will engage in a
collaborative process with mental health and substance abuse or Indian
health providers. Describe strategies that will be used to: 1) provide
information to mental health and substance abuse providers about the MHST
process, 2) identify providers that will conduct a mental health or
substance abuse assessment for children in the child welfare system, 3)
develop and implement a referral process for a timely MH or SA assessment,
and 4) assure for effective communication methods between child welfare
workers and mental health/substance abuse or Indian health staff whether
the child resides with their parents or in an out of home care setting.
- If services are to be contracted, clearly explain the extent of
services, how they will be provided, and the plan for monitoring their
quality.
5. Evaluation Data ... 15 points
- Describe the data collection system the
child welfare agency will use to track: 1) the total number of children
screened during this project period, 2) the ages of children screened, 3)
the outcome of each MHST, 4) the number of children who received further
assessment for MH or SA issues, and 5) the number of children identified
by the mental health or Indian health provider as needing further
treatment for MH or SA issues.
- Describe the process that will be used to evaluate how useful and
effective the MHST process is for child welfare staff.
- Describe how the success of the project will be evaluated by using
the data collected. What indicators or outcomes will be used by the child
welfare agency to determine if use of the MHST resulted in: 1) better use
of the child functioning element in the initial assessment or family
assessment processes to understand safety and risk issues and the need for
further MH or SA assessment, 2) better referrals and services for children
with MH or SA issues, and 3) identifying gaps in the MH or SA service
system.
6. Budget ... 10 points
- Indicate the amount of money needed in a
detailed budget.
- Indicate the amount of money or resources the county
or tribe will contribute as part of the budget.
| Number of workers to be trained* |
Potential funding |
| Up to 20 |
Up to
$7,500 |
| 21 and over |
Up to $10,000 |
*The number of workers to be trained includes all child welfare staff
(workers and supervisors) who will be involved in screener training.
For questions regarding this opportunity please call Nancy Marz at
608-261-6746. Applications are due to Nancy Marz by 5pm April 27, 2007 and
may be sent to the Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services,
PO Box 7851, Madison WI 53707-7851 or emailed as a word document to Marzna@dhfs.state.wi.us
.
REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACT: Area Administrators
CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACTS:
Nancy Marz, Clinical Consultant
Bureau of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse Services
1 W Wilson St., Rm. 433
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, WI
53707-7851
Phone: (608) 261-6746 Fax: (608) 261-7800
E-mail: marzna@dhfs.state.wi.us
Kim Eithun, Child Protective Services Specialist
Bureau of Programs and
Policies
1 West Wilson Street, Room 550
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, WI
53707-7851
Phone: (608)261-7836 Fax: (608) 264-6750
E-mail: eithukc@dhfs.state.wi.us
MEMO WEB SITES: http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/dcfs_info
http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov/dsl_info
Attachments:
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