The Specialized Contract:
In 1997, MACF was awarded the contract for the Interdepartmental Initiative for Children with Severe Needs and began serving children from the child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems in March of 1999. The initiative was unique in that multiple state child serving agencies collaborated by pooling financial resources to serve a specialized population. All agencies referred children and youth they found challenging to serve to MACF for comprehensive treatment planning and service. The project, which covered 22 counties in central and eastern Missouri, was designed to demonstrate that children with multiple behavioral and mental health problems could be effectively integrated into the community at less overall cost than the state was paying for services in more restrictive settings. These children had behavioral needs ranging from traumatic emotional functioning to severe aggression towards others and themselves. Care Management staff assessed the behavioral needs to implement the appropriate services located within the child’s home community. Services included, but were not limited to items such as intensive therapies, behavior modification, parenting classes, mentoring, educational and vocational services. This contract was re-bid and awarded to MACF in April, 2006 and is now referred to as the Specialized Case Management Contract.
MACF expanded the organizational structure by adding a Foster Care Department in February of 2001. This department specializes in recruitment, training, and licensure of treatment based foster homes that are readily available to serve as step-down placements in assisting children during their transition into the community.
Wraparound Philosophy has been the basis for all interventions since MACF received its first referral in March of 1999. All staff is trained on the Wraparound Philosophy prior to beginning case management. The elements of Wraparound are incorporated into the treatment plan via family and team input and discussion. Every child and family is assessed using these elements as a base. Goals are developed in conjunction with objectives for achievement. Care Managers work with the child and family to research and locate the services that meet their needs. These services can be a combination of paid services mandated by the Courts as well as natural and community based supports within the family’s community. MACF connects community services acquired either through networking or service contracts directly to the client and family based on the goals on the treatment plan.
Missouri Alliance for Children and Families offers a comprehensive, integrated and seamless system of caring for children and families, which is accessible, accountable, and affordable. MACF provides case management and advocacy services for children who are separated from their families. During this time, goals and treatment plans are set with the family in order to successfully proceed towards stability and reunification. The services provided to the children, youth and families are supported by the Wraparound philosophy, which encompasses an array of informal and formal supports to meet each person’s need. These supports are individualized and made a part of the client’s plan of care. Each of our service plans are clinically designed to meet the special needs of any client we may serve.