ACEs Aware
Adversity experienced in early life can negatively impact a child’s development and increase their risk for serious health conditions later in life. Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) allows for early detection of toxic stress and hence, early intervention.BeHealth
BeHealth.Today™ is a human-centered design process to create new proposals for the innovation component of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) program throughout California. BeHealth™ includes in-person gatherings of stakeholders and ongoing communication among stakeholders throughout the process. The Innovation component of MHSA tests new approaches to mental health assessment and intervention. BeHealth.Today is a complete process, from education to workshops to presenting a proposal for consideration by County and State funding sources.
- A Learning Event to understand the Process
- A Workshop to Generate New Ideas
- A Plan to Develop a Proposal
- A Presentation to Potential Funders
Developed by SDSU Social Policy Institute and The Idea Guy®, BeHealth.Today™ provides the opportunity for people with lived experience, family members and community groups to generate new approaches to uses of technology in behavioral health.
BeHealth™ is a proven process to create meaningful engagement with stakeholders in the community and yields concepts, plans and prototypes for Innovation proposals, which will be subject to local and state approval prior to implementation. Proposal outlines will conform with local County Health & Human Services Agencies, Behavioral Health Services (BHS) guidelines and MHSA regulations for Innovation programs, as described in background Information.
Strategies 2.0
Between 2016 and 2020, the Social Policy Institute (SPI) was one of three partners in the implementation of the state-wide Strategies 2.0 Training and Capacity Building Initiative, funded by the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) within the California Department of Social Services. The SPI team led the development of a rigorous Continued Quality Improvement (CQI) system and was the lead designer and developer of all curriculum and resources, such as Toolkits and Knowledge to Action briefs.
Strategies 2.0 services to the family strengthening field included: training, consultation, peer learning, and other professional development opportunities both in-person and online. Strategies 2.0 services were designed to help grow the knowledge and networks for professionals working with families to mitigate the risk factors of child abuse and neglect in California.
The final report for Strategies 2.0 report can be accessed here.
California Child Abuse Prevention Councils (CAPC) Best Practice Guidelines
In alignment with the Office of Child Abuse Prevention’s vision, and in partnership with Strategies 2.0 and CAPCs throughout the state, the Social Policy Institute has developed Best Practice Guidelines for California CAPCs.
Child Abuse Prevention Councils (CAPCs) are the catalyst, convener and coordinator of the countywide approach to prevention of child maltreatment. The role and best practice guidance supports CAPCs in their leadership role, and partnering within counties and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect while promoting child and family health and well-being.
Please access the CAPC Best Practice Guidelines here.
PASS Impact in Ventura County
Key Finding: Priority timelines are achievable! Priority Access to Services and Supports (PASS) was Beta-tested in Ventura County. PASS accomplished an expedited screening and referral to parents who have had children removed from their care.
Specific results include the following:
- Nearly 83% of the parents referred were screened, with 85% of those screenings occurring within the 5 working day benchmark.
- Of the parents referred, 87% had an appointment set within the 5 working days of the referral.
Of those who were assessed, 85% were linked with services within 5 working days of their assessment dates.
Read the full PASS report here: PASS Report
Partners in Prevention
By bringing cross-sector partners together in authentic collaboration for collective impact, Partners in Prevention builds on the vision to increase the capacity of providers and caregivers to strengthen the social and emotional well-being of children 0-5 in order to support their engagement in and ongoing success in formal and informal early care and education settings..
Over 25% of children in San Diego county are living in poverty, plus many more families are struggling to make ends meet.
We know that chronic poverty contributes to toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences. We also know that struggling with basic needs impacts parental stress and contributes as a risk factor for maltreatment. We know that childhood adversity, both for children and parents, have lifelong impacts in health, wellbeing and overall stability. And the bottom line is that too many families are experiencing adverse childhood experiences from poverty, toxic stress, and trauma. We have an opportunity here to do more and to do it differently.
What “Prevention” Means for San Diego
Shared Definition of Prevention: families thrive in a connected community that enhances and restores nurturing and responsive relationships and environments. It involves aligning impact on multiple levels so that all children are safe and cherished, all families are nurtured to build up protective factors, and systems/structures create equitable pathways to wellness. In San Diego the focus is on primary prevention. Our shared approach will reflect the innovation required to meet the evolving priorities and needs of children, families and communities.
United Parents
SPI analyses their own impact and helps others to understand and make sense of theirs. One example is United Parents, a grassroots organization that was awarded funding from the Mental Health Services and Accountability Commission (MHSA OAC) funding to lift the voice of parents and caregivers who have a child with a behavioral health challenge.
United Parents’ most recent report, a three year retrospective developed by SPI, can be found here.