Overview | Impact | Permanent Shifts | Governance | Partners
State-Level Shifts in Business
State Governance Structure: An executive committee and core planning team consisting of key stakeholders across the courts, child welfare, health, mental health, and SUD treatment meet regularly to remove systems barriers and facilitate change related to the BFF approach.
Data Sharing and Evaluation: State-level partners across systems work together to better track data related to the courts, child welfare, public health, mental health, and SUD treatment.
BFF Blueprint: A comprehensive guide now helps court, child welfare, health, mental health, and SUD treatment professionals navigate the implementation process.
Multisystems Collaborative Trainings: Trainings previously reserved for FTCs and partners are now available statewide to all child welfare professionals and partners.
Local-Level Shifts in Business
Onsite Substance Abuse Assessments: SUD providers rotate a daily schedule so staff can assess individuals at the courthouse and refer to the treatment provider of choice.
Universal Screening: Pilots use a multifaceted approach, including use of a validated screening instrument, checking with collateral contacts, drug screens, and signs and symptoms of substance use. Local social services departments administer the UNCOPE+ in counties as part of a universal screening approach to identify families affected by SUD earlier.
Universal Assessment: A universal assessment form allows individuals recommended for treatment to choose any provider for treatment without needing a new assessment.
Peer Recovery Support: Pilots sought to implement peer recovery supports to encourage family engagement and access to treatment. Peer supports work with SUD providers as well as local departments of social services.
Motivational Interviewing (MI): All six pilot sites’ DSS caseworkers received MI training. MI is an evidence-based, goal-directed, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavioral change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. MI may help with a wide range of problem behaviors related to alcohol and substance use, health promotion, medical treatment adherence, and mental health issues.