Developing and maintaining a coordinated system of community-based services to children

The Child and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP) encourages the development of "systems of care" for disturbed children and their families, based on interagency collaboration and community involvement. The experience of the South Shore mental health catchment area near Boston points to several principles for promoting effective collaboration: 1) mobilization of concerned and influential community members, 2) respect for the autonomy and interdependence of systems, 3) appreciation of divergent perspectives, and 4) commitment to shared goals. The realization of these principles depends on certain supports: staff training, flexible agency structure, sanction from a strong community and state and federal legislative support.