State-Community System of Care Development: an Exploratory Longitudinal Review.

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health
• Healthcare Systems and Services Research
• Translational Science

Background:

• The System of Care (SOC) philosophy provides a framework for effective behavioral health services for children.
• Federal grants support the planning and expansion of SOC initiatives.
• Monitoring SOC development is crucial for ensuring service effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the use of the System of Care Implementation Survey (SOCIS) for monitoring SOC development.
• To assess the progress of state and local SOCs during federal grant periods.
• To identify specific factors influencing SOC development over time.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a translational research framework.
• Administered the System of Care Implementation Survey (SOCIS) to monitor SOC development.
• Conducted inferential analysis on select SOC factors over time.

Main Results:

• State and local SOCs demonstrated mid-level development despite temporal fluctuations.
• Outreach, access to services, and the skilled provider network significantly declined over time.
• Improvements in treatment quality were observed but not sustained; family choice and collaboration showed no significant change.

Conclusions:

• The System of Care Implementation Survey (SOCIS) can track SOC development, but evaluation methods require refinement.
• Sustained improvement in key SOC factors like access and provider networks remains a challenge.
• Enhanced evaluation strategies are necessary for effective progress monitoring and management of SOC development.