System Design/Management
Funding provided by local school districts, United Way, University Center on Excellence, Human Services Commission and local fundraising. Direction Service provides the following family services:
- Service Coordination, working one-on-one with families to assist with education-based questions or concerns, systems applications and papaerwork, resource navigation, meeting attendance, and call-in support.
- Skill Building services with qualified Mental Health Associates who provide onsite support for youth who experience escalated emotions at elementary schools in the Bethel School District.
- Wraparound Facilitation, a long-term, intensive planning process that follows a series of step to assist youth and their families realize their hopes and dreams.
- Youth Advocacy Program, helping families identify needs including food, clothing, and stable housing. Youth Advocates offer in-person and call-in support. They help set goals and a plan for accomplishing goals.
- Healthy Transitions, a program in partnership with Oregon Health Authority, Portland State University, and other local and statwide stakeholders, to improve access to treatment and support services for youth and young adults who experience Serious Mental Illnesses/Serious Emotional Distrubances (SMI/SED). The program focuses on youth between the ages of 16-25 years and are marginalized, outside of traditional settings, or at risk of disconnection from services.
Personnel
Service Coordinators, Skill Builders, Wraparound Facilitators, Youth Advocates, Qualified Mental Health Associates
Practitioner Qualifications
Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication skills; Expertise in facilitation and collaborative problem-solving; Ability to be assertive without being abrasive; Ability to connect with people from very diverse backgrounds. Knowledge: Case Coordinators typically have a graduate degree in special education and broad cross-categorical knowledge of disability and special education issues. They possess a working knowledge of special education practices; disabling conditions; special education law; and existing services for children and young adults with disabilities.
Availability/Accessing Services
The first step in accessing services at Direction Services is for parents to call and request assistance. Families hear about Direction Service from a wide variety of sources including other families, physicians, schools, counselors, shelter providers, and other agencies. At the initial intake meeting, which is scheduled at a time and location (throughout Lane County) that is convenient to the family, case coordinators clarify the needs families have. Case coordinators work with families to identify family strengths and assets, develop a plan for how needs can best be addressed and clarify responsibilities and timelines for needed activities. Case coordinators help families by: • assisting them to understand and access formal and informal services and supports to meet basic life needs such as food, housing, medical care, respite, and job placement; ensuring child and family needs are met in a timely manner, without costly duplication and confusion, and before more expensive services are required; arranging and, as necessary, attending school, medical, mental health, and other important meetings with families, ensuring that their voice is heard and promoting collaboration across providers; providing emotional support leading to families feeling less isolated and more in control of their lives. Case Coordinators frequently work with families and schools who have disagreements about student's special education programs. As part of that process, Case Coordinators assist families to: Review existing evaluation info; Identify areas of concern and prioritize issues; Effectively participate in meetings and communicate their concerns as well as understand the district's perspective; Facilitate and engage in collaborative problem-solving at meetings.
Materials/Activities
Staff need access to typical office equipment and supplies and dependable transportation. Access to current and accurate information on community resources.