What is a System of Care?

A system of care is not a program - it is a philosophy of how care should be provided to children and youth. It is an approach to the provision of services that acknowledges the importance of family and other caregivers, school and community, and seeks to promote the full potential of every child and youth by addressing their physical, social, emotional, intellectual, cultural, and linguistic needs.

What is Southeast Mental Health System of Care (SEMHSOC)?

The Southeast Mental Health System of Care provides a forum for communities to collaborate, develop new and existing resources, advocate, and educate for a children's mental and behavioral health care system that builds on the strengths of families and the community. The System of Care ensures that services are community-based, family-focused, and culturally competent.

SEMHSOC Core Principles: 

~ Family Driven
~ Child-Centered
~ Youth Guided
~ Culturally and Linguistically Competent 
~ Community Based
~ Strength Based  
~ Uses Evidence Based and 
    Best Practice Models
~ Multi Agency Collaboration 

SEMHSOC Purposes:

SEMHSOC's purpose is to work toward advancing Children in Southeastern Connecticut are socially and emotionally healthy and experience a coordinated, child centered, and culturally competent system of traditional and non-traditional supports:

~ To implement a comprehensive, coordinated, community-based system of care in the local area, emphasizing the natural support that families and peers provide, identify challenges and make recommendations on the provision of access to treatment, prevention, and rehabilitation services for children with serious emotional disturbances;

~ To serve as a vehicle for local agency coordination and collaborative program development; q To conduct operations consistent with SEMHSOC standards and guidelines;

~ To promote the identified specific key duties, powers, goals, and outcomes to be achieved to the local community;

~ To evaluate and make recommendations regarding the funding and delivery of children's mental health services locally;

~ To work together in good faith, consistent with statute and administrative rule, to:

• Ensure parents are full partners in the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the system of care.

• Ensure that children with serious emotional disturbance and their families receive the highest priority access to services and timely collaborative, individualized case planning.

• Share commitment to responsibility and values for children and families with multiple needs.

• Share planning, training, development and funding of services and system of care with clearly defined roles for individual agencies and families.

• Open communication through the sharing of aggregate data, policies and strategic decision-making regarding the local system of care.