New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations Annual Membership Report 2011-2012 Helping youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs and their families 1
Why the New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations? The New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations (NJAFSO) supports the family-run Family Support Organizations through training, technical assistance, policy development, identification of best practices, data collection and analysis, and resource development. NJAFSO partners with other statewide family-run family support organizations on an annual parent conference and on educational and policy efforts to improve services and outcomes for children, youth, and families. NJAFSO is also the New Jersey State Organization for the National Federation of Families for Children s Mental Health. 2
Why Family Support Organizations? New Jersey s Family Support Organizations (FSOs) are family-led, community-based non-profit agencies whose mission is to provide support, education, and advocacy to families and caregivers of children with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. FSOs work collaboratively within New Jersey s Child Behavioral Health System and with community partners to improve outcomes for children and youth with all emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs and their families. They collect and share data from their experience that lead to improved practices in serving children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. Each FSO also supports the Youth Partnership, a youth organization led by youth and young adults to foster support and leadership of young people with behavioral health needs. 3
Before Family Support Organizations Children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs often did not receive appropriate services Many were denied communitybased services Lack of access to needed services prevented many from succeeding in school Inadequate community-based resources forced families to make difficult and painful decisions to access care 4
New Jersey s Child Behavioral Health System New Jersey s Child Behavioral Health System changed the world for New Jersey children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. Family Support Organizations are an integral part of its success. Children and youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health needs receive community-based supports through Care Management Organizations, Mobile response, and other services accessed through the Contracted System Administrator Most youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs progress to postsecondary education, employment, independent living, and being part of the community Families and youth can look to the future with hope 5
The Role of Family Support Organizations Family Support Organizations (FSOs) help families access services for their children and youth through New Jersey s Child Behavioral Health System. They also provide support to families through individual peer support and peer support groups, educational workshops, and connection to other needed resources. FSOs help develop youth capacity and leadership through their Youth Partnership activities, which also help reduce stigma and improve community understanding. The majority of FSO staff and boards are parents of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges, so they are able to bring personal experience and expertise when working with families. 6
The Role of Youth Partnerships Youth Partnerships (YPs), led by a young-adult Youth Coach, help youth to engage with other youth with mental, emotional and behavioral health needs. Through support groups, social activities, and leadership development, youth and young adults ages 13-21 find their voice to affect change in their own lives and the lives of others. YPs have their own boards, websites, logos and funding! Each Youth Partnership participates in monthly community activities to challenge stigma and strengthen other youth in their communities. Each year, youth leaders across the state develop and facilitate the annual youth conference for more than 2,600 members of the Youth Partnerships! 7
Network of Family Support Organizations New Jersey has the most comprehensive youth and family infrastructure the nation! It provides access to a family-led, familycentered Family Support Organization for families of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges in every county! New Jersey has a network of 14 Family Support Organizations and Youth Partnerships that cover all 21 counties: Atlantic- Cape; Bergen; Burlington; Camden; Cumberland-Gloucester-Salem; Essex; Hudson; Hunterdon-Somerset-Warren; Mercer; Middlesex; Monmouth; Morris-Sussex; Ocean; Passaic; and Union. 8
Why NJAFSO? The New Jersey Alliance of Family Support Organizations provides leadership and support to the statewide network of Family Support Organizations through: Outreach Organizing Forums and Conferences Providing Referrals/Resources Providing technical assistance and training Effecting systemic change Making local, state and national connections 9
Why NJAFSO? NJAFSO also disseminates important information about New Jersey s Child Behavioral Health System and the role of families and family organizations within that system; collaborates with the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Division of Child Behavioral Health Services to improve services and outcomes for children, youth and families; works with FSOs to increase their capacity to serve underserved and underrepresented families; and promotes parentprofessional partnership at local, state, and national levels. 10
The Mission of NJAFSO To strengthen and promote the wellness of families with children and youth who have emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges by serving as a catalyst and capacity-builder for family support and empowerment organizations. 11
Family Support Organizations Help Families Better understand their children and youths strengths and needs Communicate more effectively with education, health, child behavioral health, and other professionals, and resolve disagreements Understand their rights and responsibilities under the child behavioral health system Obtain appropriate services for their children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges Connect with other community resources that assist children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges 12
Family Support Organizations Serve Families In 2011-2012, New Jersey s FSOs provided almost 46,000 hours of peer support to families whose children and youth receive support through Care Management Organizations (CMOs) 17,960 families received ongoing peer support, and 13,560 parents attended FSO support groups. Over 8,841 families reached out for support through FSO Warm-lines, and 2,397 new families referred by CMOs received intensive, face-to-face support from FSOs. 2,655 youth with emotional, behavioral and mental health challenges participated in FSO Youth Partnership activities. 13
Family Needs & Strengths Outcomes (FANS) 98.4% of parents responded that FSO staff provided services promptly and efficiently 100% of parents said that FSO staff were courteous and professional 100% of parents reported that FSO staff were informed and made an effort to get information to assist me 97% of parents indicated that FSO staff were knowledgeable and answered my questions 98.6% of parents agreed that FSO staff modeled self advocacy skills 95% of parents said I would recommend FSO services to other families 14
FSO Efforts to Outcomes Families receiving support from FSOs demonstrate: Greater optimism about their life and ability to cope than prior to FSO involvement; Increased social networks (friends and family) that help them deal with their challenges; Enhanced ability to communicate effectively regarding their family issues; Greater knowledge of their child/family strengths and needs; rights and responsibilities; and service options. The data on this page is a summary of information from the FSO network s FANS and Efforts to Outcome data. 15
What families say about FSOs: Without the Family Support Organization, I know that I would not have my sanity Having someone to reassure me, not passing judgment on where I live, my financial situation or being a parent of a child with emotional challenges I didn t understand, made me feel like a mother again and that I can be a part of that process. The FSO was a lifeline to information, assistance, and guidance through this trauma. 16
What families say about FSOs The FSO has been a tremendous support for me It was the first place where I felt that people truly understand. My Support Partner was there to listen and offer support. She let me know that I am not along on this life-long journey! The FSO has been a blessing to me and my family. They have provided advice, helped me coordinate services, and attended meetings with me when I needed support and experience my care manager didn t have. 17
Family Support Organization Outcomes Families receiving support from FSOs reported increased satisfaction with their youth s educational arrangement and school participation. Families receiving support from FSOs reported increased satisfaction with the current services their youth and family were receiving. The data on this page is a summary of information from the FSO network s FANS and Efforts to Outcome data. 18
What families say about Support Partners My FSO Support Partner has taught me how to become a stronger mother. I have become much more confident with her help. I have been able to stand up for myself and my daughter. Without the FSO, I would not have been able to achieve everything that my daughter and I now have. My FSO Support Partner has been a great support to me, from going with me to the hospital to attending school meetings. My son is one of the success stories but I could not have made it without my Support Partner. These quotes are from families assisted by the FSOs. 19
These quotes are from youth in FSO Youth Partnerships. FSO Youth Outcomes The FSO Youth Partnership keeps me off the streets when there is nothing else to do. We have fun, socialize, talk about problems, and do community service. We try to eliminate bullying, drugs, peer pressure, and racism. We also try to stop the violence and keep each other off the streets. The FSO Youth Partnership lets me meet new people. I get good advice about what to do and how to handle my past mistakes and peer pressure. Youth Partnership keeps me away from things I shouldn t do and it s also fun! 20
FSOs Help Parents through Peer Support Groups Family Support Organizations facilitate peer support groups at times and locations that are convenient for families of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. These meetings provide meaningful opportunities for family to learn about resources, develop their own advocacy skills and create new relationships. Each support group offers transportation, child care and refreshments. 3,580 peer support group hours were provide 13,560 family members participated in these support groups 21
FSOs Help Families and Professionals through Individual Peer Support Family Support Organizations facilitate individual peer support for families of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. In 2010, FSOs began expanding to support more families. At this time, 6 of the 14 FSOs have or are in the process of expanding to serve more families and youth. 2,397 families received individual one-on-one, peer support for 45,921 hours that s approximately 20 hours of peer support per family for 5 hours a week 8,841 additional families contacted the Warm Line for telephonic support 22
Family Support Organizations Promote High Expectations, Endless Possibilities! FSOs are successful in their mission and are a wonderful resource for New Jersey families of children and youth with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges! 23
NEW JERSEY ALLIANCE OF FAMILY SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS 114 South Second Street Phillipsburg, New Jersey 08865 phone(609) 310-1120 fax (908) 213-9933 http://www.njfamilyalliance.org 24