What is a System of Care?
A system of care is a way of doing business that promotes improved
policy and service delivery to support the many young children in
Colorado with social, emotional and behavioral needs. These children
may receive services through schools, pediatricians and other health
providers, child welfare, child care, disability service providers,
the faith community, and other agencies. The goal of a system of
care is to incorporate a broad array of services and supports into a
coordinated network, building meaningful partnerships with community
service providers, as well as and families and youth.
Why a System of Care?
- Research has shown that the major barrier to
school readiness for children is often not the lack of appropriate
cognitive skills, but rather the absence of needed social and
emotional skills.
- Research has also shown that 12 to 15% of all
children and youth have emotional and behavioral needs that would
benefit from services and supports. Untreated, these needs may
lead to an interrelated set of problems including poor school
performance, delinquency, early pregnancy, substance abuse, and
violence.
Experience and research show that these children
and youth can succeed when provided with coordinated
family-centered, individualized and culturally competent services
and supports. These approaches are especially successful and cost
efficient when provided before the challenges become severe.
In the first Surgeon General’s report on children’s mental health,
David Satcher (1999) summarized current best practices in research
and concluded that the multiple problems associated with emotional
and behavioral disturbances in children and adolescents are best
addressed with a “systems” approach in which multiple service
sectors work in an organized, collaborative way.
Why Project
BLOOM?
Colorado has many good programs and staff who are providing services
for children, youth and families with multiple and complex
educational, safety, and overall health, needs, but barriers prevent
effective coordination and partnering. Outcome data in the state
finds the status of these children is deteriorating, putting them at
risk for increased school failure, substance abuse, and violence.
Applying the principles of a system of care, Project BLOOM is
striving to coordinate the development of an integrated system of
supports and services for children ages birth through five in
Colorado who have the most serious emotional difficulties and
complex needs. Additionally, this system would support other
children who may be at risk through a stronger collaborative network
of providers and agencies.
Link to Colorado System of Care website:
www.cosystemofcare.org
Link to System of Care website: www.systemsofcare.net
Link to principles and values of a system of care
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For more information on Project
Bloom, contact 