Building Mississippi’s System of Care: An Interagency Solution for Mississippi’s Children

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

The state statute that establishes and governs the Interagency System of Care for children and youth with serious emotional/behavioral disorders (§43-14-1) sunsets July 1, 2010.  This law must be re-enacted by the Legislature in 2010 in order for the system to continue.

The System of Care model is an interagency, multi-disciplinary approach to care for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.  It is intended to reduce the number of inappropriate out-of-home placements and inappropriate school suspensions and expulsions for this population of children.

The Center for Mississippi Health Policy commissioned Mr. Cliff Davis of the Human Service Collaborative to conduct an assessment of the current system in Mississippi and provide recommendations for strengthening the System of Care. To download a copy of his report click HERE, and for a copy of the Executive Summary click HERE.

The Center for Mississippi Health Policy has prepared an Issue Brief summarizing the findings and recommendations in the consultant’s report.  For a copy of the Issue Brief click HERE.