About Us

How Did System of Care Begin in Durham?

In August 2002, key leaders in Durham's human service delivery system, including the Directors of Durham Public Health, Department of Social Services, The Durham Center (MH/DD/SAS), the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Superintendent of Durham Public Schools, the Chair of the County Commissioners, the Assistant County Manager, and a District Juvenile Court Judge, made a commitment to work together to develop a community-wide System of Care. To solidify this commitment, they created and signed a Memorandum of Agreement that continues to serve as a living document and guide to the implementation of System of Care in Durham County.

What are the Essential Components of Durham's System of Care?

Since 2002, Durham has invested in the development of a strong and vibrant System of Care that continues to evolve. The basic constructs of Durham's SOC include:

1. Durham Directors - The ongoing commitment and involvement of the Chairperson of the County Commissioners, the School Superintendent, Juvenile Court Judge, and Directors of Public Health, The Durham Center, DSS, and the Chief Court Counselor in providing top-level leadership and policies that support of local SOC;
2. The System of Care Council - Assistant Director level or senior staff across agencies working together to improve services by refining operational and policy aspects of the system;
3. The Community Collaborative - A monthly public meeting comprised of representatives from a broad range of agencies, public and private providers, family advocates and others that support families. The Collaborative assesses needs in the community and establishes effective relationships to improve local services;
4. Child and Family Teams - Individuals important in the everyday lives of children and their families, including providers and informal support persons, who work as a team with each family. The Child and Family Team develops and implements an individualized family-centered service/support plan through one unified team: 1 Family/1 Team/1 Plan;
5. Care Review Teams - Various public and private professionals who provide additional support to Child and Family Teams helping with complicated family situations; and,
6. The Family Coalition - Families and human service staff working together to determine how best to support other families, learn about and obtain needed resources, and promote family centered planning in all areas of the SOC.
   

These team structures share responsibility and accountability to actively support Child and Family Teams to achieve meaningful outcomes for Durham's children and their families within the framework of a home-and community-based System of Care.

Who Receives Services & Supports through Durham's System of Care?

Durham's SOC is targeting intensive services and supports for children and their families who qualify for the Comprehensive Treatment Service Program (CTSP). These children are, as defined by the 2005 NC General Assembly's CTSP Special Provision, are those who have serious emotional disturbances, have problems functioning in home, school, and/or community, need the services of more than one agency, and who are at risk for or already placed out of their home to receive services. As the local SOC expands consistent with the local MOA, additional children, families and other individuals are being included for services and supports. These include:

• Parents who have been found by DSS to be in need of intensive family support in their efforts to keep their children safe;
• Parents who are receiving mental health and/or substance abuse services and whose children are not receiving such services;
• Children who are at high risk of academic failure.
  

The expansion of Durham's SOC integrates elements of the NC DMH/DD/SAS State Plan, the Child MH Plan, the Division of Social Services' Multiple Response System, Durham's Public School system's Alignment for Academic Achievement initiative with best practice in the juvenile justice arena, i.e., "Comprehensive Strategy Framework" (Howell, J.C., 2003). In order to effectively broaden System of Care to the way 'business is done' community-wide, key community leaders have adapted the SOC framework with a Recovery Model to initiate an 'Adult System of Care' to better meet the needs of adults in the community with mental health and/or substance abuse needs. There is also groundwork being laid to adapt System of Care for persons with Developmental Disabilities. The ultimate System of Care expansion goal in Durham is to make comprehensive, flexible and effective support available for individuals and families throughout the community and through this assistance make the community a better place to live for all.