Together We Can is a program designed to integrate and coordinate client specific services for children from birth to 18 years of age and their families with multiple needs.  The children to be served are exhibiting intense or excessive emotional, interpersonal, or behavioral challenges within the home, school, or community which are inconsistent with his/her age, intellectual level, and cultural background and multiple efforts to deal with these challenges have been unsuccessful.  In addition to this there are no available resources to meet the child’s needs or to deal with their problems and there is the need for involvement from multiple state and local agencies.  Children who are at high risk of removal from his/her community due to multiple issues that have persisted even with other efforts are also eligible for services.  Eligibility is regardless of guardianship, legal custody, or income.  These services are provided to support the family unit and if possible to prevent removal from the community in which the children and family reside.  In this program there is interagency collaboration which can involve all child-serving agencies and groups.

The core team members of this cooperative effort are the Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Mental Health Services (DMHS), Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS), Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Division of Youth Services (DYS), Division of County Operations (DCO), Division of Administrative Services (DAS), Division of Medical Services (DMS), Department of Education (DOE), Department of Health (DOH), and a consumer representative.  The family is able to invite anyone that they would like to be involved with the team and anyone who is providing services currently to the child in order to coordinate efforts.  Abilities Unlimited is present as a potential provider of services but is not a voting team member.

The team meets weekly to staff the needs of the families, review cases quarterly, update service plans/contracts, and listen to a community resource speaker to learn more about services that are available in the community.   Funding has been more stable for this program during some periods more than others, but team efforts are  more conservative than not.  Some individuals who need long term services are converted to Medicaid Waiver.  The team is often  more conscious of time limits, although there is not a set period of time to receive services.  This is a good program which brings a number of agencies and professionals together for the common good of the individual.  These cooperative efforts have been very beneficial in meeting many family needs by helping them locate resources within the community and helping them make needed contacts.  The impact that this program is having on the lives of children with disabilities is very positive.
 

Back to Developmental Disabilities Services

HOME