Are you interested in getting involved with the Southeast Mental Health System of Care? Are you interested in getting involved with any of SEMHSOC initiatives such as Building Blocks or Workforce Development?

Families have an important role to play in helping set the agenda for SEMHSOC and Building Blocks in the provision of mental health services to infants, children and youth. In a truly family-driven system, families work together side by side and with care coordinators and other providers of mental health services in identifying unmet needs. It is through such efforts that they are best able to define the outcomes that matter most to their children and all members of their families.

This is why is so important that you join a community of families, community members, youth, and providers of care to work collaboratively to help guide the development and implementation of all activites of the Southeast Mental Health System of Care. If you are raising or have raised a child with social or emotional challenges, we invite you to join us in these discussions.

DISCUSSION GROUPS

Are you interested in being part of a discussion group that deals with specific issues within SEMHSOC? If so, please contact:

WORKGROUPS

Communications and Outreach Workgroup is responsible for promoting System of Care (SOC) visibility and comprehensive reach, developing and implementing the SOC Social Marketing Plan, developing and delivering SOC's key messages, overseeing the Building Blocks website and developing new strategic partnerships.

Social Marketing Goals: (1) To apply a full range of mental health promotional methods that include research and evaluation, direct participation programs, organizational and workforce development, community strengthening, advocacy and system reform. (2) To use communication and social marketing strategies to reduce stigma associated with mental health care and increase awareness and utilization of mental health services for young children and youth in the Southeast area of Connecticut. (3) To work collaboratively across sectors and government organizations while creating strong relationships and referral networks with diverse families, medical providers (pediatricians, family physicians, primary health care providers, mental health providers, community health centers, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations), early care providers, early education providers, and others working with the birth-to-five population. (4) To design culturally and linguistically appropriate messages, materials, and activities/interventions. (5) To focus on enhancing understanding around protective factors such as coping capacity, resilience and connectedness of individuals and communities in order to improve emotional and social wellness. 6. To utilize an evidence-based approach and logic models in the planning, implementation and evaluation of activities.

Cultural and Linguistic Competence Workgroup is responsible for promoting, reinforcing and improving cultural competency in mental healthcare services for children and youth in an equitable and respectful manner. Its goal is to promote an environment of justice and equality in the provision of quality mental health care to all, by exposing existing attitudes and prejudices that serve as obstacles to the implementation of linguistic and cultural competent interventions, in order to produce true sustainable individual, as well as organizational, change.

Workforce Development Workgroup is responsible for increasing the capacity of families, youth, providers and the medical community, so they will be able to identify and meet the social and emotional (mental health) needs of children from birth to five years. We will accomplish this through a comprehensive infant and early childhood mental health training structure. All trainings will be infused with a culturally competent, family-driven and youth-guided curriculum. We have a Workforce Development Work Group that is meeting twice per month to diligently advance these goals by developing a workforce development plan and a training structure.