Evaluation for the Missouri Interdepartmental Initiative
for Children with Severe Needs

Principal Investigator: Arlene Stiffman, PhD
Funder: The Interdepartmental Initiative for Children with Severe Needs -- in collaboration with State of Missouri Departments of Mental Health, Social Services, Education, and Public Health
Timeframe: Funded 09/00-03/02
Affiliation: Center for Mental Health Services Research (CMHSR)

Project Staff:   Brett Drake, PhD, Investigator
                      
Participating Organizations: The Interdepartmental Initiative for Children with Severe Needs-jointly planned, developed and operated by four State of Missouri Departments (Mental Health, Social Services, Education, and Public Health)
Project Contact:  Arlene Stiffman, PhD, (314) 935-6685
                             E-mail: arstiff@wustl.edu
                            

Project Update as of 12/17/2007:
Stage: Project completed

Description:
The Interdepartmental Initiative for Children with Severe Needs (the Initiative) was jointly planned, developed and operated by four State of Missouri Departments (Mental Health, Social Services, Education, and Public Health). The Initiative integrated funding to support comprehensive, integrated, community-based Plans of Care for children with severe behavioral health needs and their families, under a single, unified care management process. Children and their families were enrolled in an intensive, community based system of care under contract with the Missouri Alliance for Families and Children, which  served as a Care Management Organization. The State awarded a Technical Services Organization (TSO) contract to Value/Options to provide administrative and operational support for the Initiative.

The Goals of the Initiative were to:
a. Improve care for children with severe behavioral health needs and their families;
b. Promote service delivery that is coordinated, integrated, effective, efficient;
c. Promote enduring, stable, safe living environments for children at risk.

The Initiative was implemented in the Eastern and Central Regions of the State. The Eastern Region included the City of St. Louis and 5 surrounding Counties (Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis, and Warren). The Central Region included 18 Counties (Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Gasconade, Howard, Laclede, Miller, Moniteau, Montgomery, Morgan, Osage, Pettis, and Randolph).

Washington University was the contractee in an evaluation of this program, based on data provided by the TSO.