E.     Creating a system of care for youth by bringing parents, schools, and community agencies together

Target Audience: community based programs, courts, faith-based programs, juvenile justice, law enforcement, mental health, school counseling, teachers, and school administrators

Presentation abstract: This workshop focuses on how a model program can create a system of care for youth by bringing parents, schools, and community agencies together to create a supportive and nurturing environment. FAST for Middle School is a multi-family group intervention designed to build protective factors for youth (6^th-8^th grade) and empower parents to be the primary prevention agents for their own children. FAST is an award-winning model program for the prevention of substance abuse, juvenile delinquency, school failure, child abuse and neglect and mental health problems.  In addition, FAST increases parents’ social support, school involvement, enhances family cohesion, improves caring and attention about academics, and reduces aggression between students. 

This workshop will focus on the strategies used by Middle School FAST to create a comprehensive system of care. The session will use the Middle School FAST initiative in Lyons Township, Illinois, which has received The Director’s Award for an Exemplary School-Based Mental Health Program from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an example of community collaboration and its benefits.  The project represents a major community collaborative between a funder and school districts and community service organizations working with parents to improve the mental health of at-risk students.

Every cycle of FAST must be evaluated. Evaluation data collected from 645 parents and 659 youth show statistically significant improvements in family cohesion, expressiveness, conflict resolution, family relationships, and parenting efficacy. Parents report increased involvement with their youth, improved anger management, and improved communication with their child. Parents also report receiving and providing more social support, and being more involved in school. Parents and youth see improvements in the youth’s behavior, including reduced emotional symptoms, improved conduct, reduced hyperactivity, reduced peer problems, and a reduced impact of problems on their life.  Youth also reported increased coping skills.

Learning outcomes:

1.       Participants will learn specific strategies that connect families with school and community-based resources

2.       Participants will learn about the potential benefits of creating a system of care for youth

3.       Participants will learn strategies designed to empower parents to be the primary prevention agents in their child’s life