kids matter: improving outcomes for children in washington state

1

Kids Matter: Improving Outcomes for Children in Washington State

Building Partnerships to Build Better Systems: Kids Matter,

Strengthening Families, and Mental HealthEarly Childhood Comprehensive

Systems Partners MeetingMarch 13, 2008

2

Who we are

• Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems Grant – in WA part of a partnership called Kids Matter: Lorrie Grevstad

• Council for Children and Families – CBCAP and Strengthening Families Washington grantee: Joan Sharp

• Mental Health – including the WA Mental Health Transformation Grant: Tory Clarke Henderson

3

Today: Sharing Washington’s Story

• Overview of ECCS partnership & Kids Matter

• System Efforts to Strengthen Families through Partnerships with a Focus on Family Support & Children’s Mental Health

• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

4

Kids Matter Framework:A Tool to…

• Bring together people and organizations with common goals

• Reduce fragmentation of systems and services

• Provide policy guidance to decision-makers

• Contribute to strong programs, services, schools, and communities

5

Kids Matter was developed under the following tenets:

• Joint system building efforts built upon established plans

• Cross-system state agency participation

• Participatory community input from a broad constituency

6

Kids Matter: Pillars of the Plan

7

• Approaches early childhood systems as a collaborative effort

• Serves as an over-arching bridge for a comprehensive and integrated framework

• Defines common goals and outcomes• Outlines specific strategies and partners• Focuses on accountability and evaluation of

progress• Systems Thinking approach that emphasizes the

relationships among a system’s parts, rather than the parts themselves

Kids Matter: Hallmarks

8

Four overarching gaps in Washington state systems for young children:

1. Fragmentation—multiple, separate systems2. Funding gaps3. Challenges to focused policy guidance and

decision-making4. Lack of public understanding of the importance of

early childhood and early childhood services

What Needs Does Kids Matter Address ?

9

Create a Common Frame

10

Kids Matter

• Kids Matter is a framework of prioritized outcomes

11

Access to Health Insurance and Medical Homes, Social,

Emotional and Mental Health, Parenting Information and Support, Early Care and

Education/Child Care

Family Support approach, strategy, or outcome is integrated throughout

12

Sample Broad Outcomes

• Increased availability of appropriate and coordinated mental health services for children

• Improved understanding and practice of nurturing behaviors to promote children’s optimal social-emotional development and mental health

• Increased number and percentage of children entering kindergarten with social-emotional skills

13

Kids Matter Framework

14

Accountability & Evaluation

• Three Levels of progress:

• Using the Kids Matter Framework• Systems Change• Child and Family Changes

15

Parent and Caregiver Changes

Strategies

Child and Family Changes

Goal

Systems ChangesSO THAT

SO THAT

SO THAT

SO THAT

Accountability and Evaluation

16

• Provides a conceptual framework for creating a more integrated, accessible EC system

• A ‘big tent’ for all who care for young children

• A way to focus collaborative efforts ‘strategically’

• Brings together new public & private partners

• 30,000 ft. level – allows for flexibility so programs, initiatives and agencies can use what works for them

How Does Kids Matter Add Value?

17

Using the Framework to Support Systems

Efforts

18

What is systems work?

Systems• Multi-program/service• Connections• Partners• Infrastructure

(funding, training, etc.)

Program/Services• Single

program/service• Service delivery

19

• Health (including primary care)

• Public Health• Child Care & Early

Learning • Education• Mental Health • Social Services• Child Welfare

ECCS/KM Focus Areas• Health & Access

(Medical Home)• Early Care &

Education• Social, Emotional &

Mental Health• Parenting Education

& Family Support

Systems that impact young children and their families

20

Systems work – What do we actually do?

• Inform • Provide technical assistance • Advise • Coordinate • Connect• Plan• Think • Read• Listen, learn & talk

21

Council for Children and Families

AKA Washington Children’s Trust Fund

Our role: State lead for efforts to prevent child abuse & neglect

• Funding & support for community-based programs, especially developing capacity for outcome evaluation

• Public awareness & education• Developing the network & informing the field

(research into practice)• Policy, advocacy & system change

22

Council for Children and Families

• Child abuse & neglect prevention in Washington is not a “system” but a network

• It takes a “big tent” to include CAN/prevention

• Systems change focus allows everyone’s contribution to be valued as parts of the necessary whole

23

Council for Children and Families

• Washington – like many other states – is in the throes of change

• Kids Matter looks holistically about what promotes child well being & brings family support – aka child abuse & neglect prevention -- squarely to the forefront

• “Children are healthy & ready for school” requires parent support & family strengthening

24

Strengthening Families and Kids Matter

Strengthening Families & the Protective Factors provides the Kids Matter

Framework with a strategic approach to specific outcomes & specific

methods of supporting parents and families

25

Strengthening Families and Kids Matter

Kids Matter outcomes relevant to Strengthening Families:

• Increased number and percentage of children who live in safe, stable & supportive families

• Improved understanding and practice of nurturing behaviors to promote children’s optimal social-emotional development and mental health

• Increased systems’ recognition of families’ role as the primary nurturer of their children

26

Quality Early Care and Education

Protective FactorsQuality Early Care &

Education

SF Supports

ECCSFive

Componentsand

Outcomes

Social & EmotionalCompetence of Children(SE-MH)

Program Strategies That:• Facilitate friendships and

mutual support• Strengthen parenting • Respond to family crises• Link families to services

and opportunities• Value and support

parents• Facilitate children’s

social and emotional development

• Observe and respond to early warning signs of child abuse or neglect

Concrete supports in times of need

(P&FS)

Knowledge of Parenting & Child

Development(ECE&H)

Social Connections(SE-MH)

Parental Resilience(P&FS)

27

Kids Matter Framework

28

Strengthening Families Washington

29

Mental Health

• Mental health within DOH and local public health

• Kids Matter/ECCS - Social, emotional, mental health focus area

• Mental Health Transformation (MHT) Grant (http://mhtransformation.wa.gov/)

• MHT Prevention Advisory Group• State Board of Health Paper - Mental Health –

a Public Health Approach

30

Mental Health – A Public Health Approach

Treatment & Recovery

Early Intervention

Prevention

Promotion

31

What helps partnerships work?

• Relationships, relationships, relationships• Listen and learn about each others

systems – funding streams, regulations, priorities, stakeholders, etc.

• Pay attention to language • Go to meetings• Tapping into natural leaders • Read

32

What gets in the way?

• Difficult to identify and measure results and outcomes

• Can become overwhelming and disorganized if priorities are not identified

• Can be difficult to articulate clearly• Lack of funding for coordination and

systems building efforts• Tiring

33

Results of our partnerships

• MHT Prevention Advisory Group• Prevention Chapter in Mental Health

Transformation Plan, including mention of ECCS/KM

• ECCS/LM listed as DOH initiative that works toward an MHT priority (increased system collaboration)

• SBOH paper including early childhood stakeholders, and early childhood section

34

More results

• Linking community efforts related to early learning, SFWA, social emotional development, and children’s mental health

• Integrated ECCS/KM, SFWA, and mental health into Child & Adolescent Section Strategic Plan, MCH Mental Health Plan, and MCH Block Grant reports

• MCH Priority – Optimal mental health and healthy relationships

• MCH State Performance Measure related to early learning and school readiness

35

More results

• Promotion & utilization of the Kids Matter framework to new audiences: – Increased understanding of the many

interconnecting parts that contribute to child well being

– Silo busting

36

Lessons Learned

• Dogged determination (a fire in the belly) makes the difference.

• Joining together to build off a common framework keeps the fires of commitment burning

• Recognize this work takes time & should be supported

• It is worth it !

37

Contact Information

Lorrie Grevstadlorrie.grevstad@doh.wa.gov

Tory Clarke Hendersontory.henderson@doh.wa.gov

Joan Sharpjoan@wcpcan.wa.gov