Child and family focus. Working together to develop integrated systems of care

We've all heard the jokes about the nature of committee work: "A camel is a horse designed by committee." Or, "A committee is a group of the unwilling unprepared to do the unnecessary." In the current case, nothing could be farther from the truth. Over the past year, we were very fortunate to be able to gather a group of experts who were more than willing, and prepared, to do the very necessary. Representing all areas of children's behavioral healthcare, these respected leaders of the field worked assiduously to produce a blueprint for how child mental health and welfare workers, public purchasers, families, managed care leaders, and other stake-holders can work together to create well-managed "systems of care." The article they coauthored reflects some of the best thinking on the problems of emerging multiple managed care systems and the specific actions urgently needed to protect children and their families. We are pleased to present their recommendations to you in this month's Child and Family Focus. We feel that the hard work that went into this collaboration, and the resulting consensus, demonstrates that integration can, does, and must work to create better systems of care.