Integrated Case Management (ICM) Project

Integrated Case Management (ICM) is a multi-system infrastructure that embeds wraparound principles and guides the process of coordinating services for vulnerable youth with complex needs and their families who are served in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice.

I was tasked with administering this RFP.

I previously provided oversight and administered the Integrated Case Management (ICM) program in 4 counties, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, and was a multi-system infrastructure that embedded wraparound principles and guided the process of coordinating services for vulnerable youth with complex needs and their families who were served in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice System (dual system involved). Maurice’s oversight of this grant also led to a 660% increase in clients and services provided compared to the previous two-year period.

I helped secured a contractor to write a Washington State Integrated Case Management Toolkit. The Toolkit will provide a blueprint for Washington State to encourage the expansion of ICM/MSCC sites. The Toolkit will also showcase DSHS ICM sites and other major pieces of MSCC work. It was completed in March 2013. It is our hope that this toolkit will be useful in multiple ways.

First and foremost is to highlight the extraordinary benefits to youth, families and communities achievable with Multi-System Collaboration and Coordination efforts utilizing ICM principles and practices. Second, to engage and motivate potential sites and get them excited about developing the comprehensive framework of ICM.

Finally, to show evidence of successful implementation within a department and between social services and local communities to better meet the unique needs of Washington State’s youth and families.

file:///C:/Users/Maurice%20Ward/Downloads/Washington_State_Integrated_Case_Management_ICM_A_Replication_Toolkit%20(1).pdf

"Get In Where U Fit In!"- Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Reduction

During the final quarter we achieved a 91 % success rate with the 62 youth we had served to date in our objective of ensuring each individual in the program achieves at least one outcome. The success rates of our individual objectives are as follows:

In-program:

97 % Client Retention & Satisfaction

Post-program:

1.) 100 % reduction in gang participation and related behavior,

2.) 91 % regular participation in program,

3.) 100 % reduction in criminal behavior, admissions and detention days,

4.) 97 % placement or continued progress in educational and/or vocational program,

5.) 100 % reduction in negative law enforcement contact that increases DMC in their community,

6.) 84 % cessation of substance abuse , and

7.) 100 % increase in pro-social behavior

The youth (62 total) we served over the final quarter were from the greater Seattle (American Indian Heritage/Middle College High School, Brettler Family Place, and Hope Place 2) area and range in age from 10 to 17. The youth served were:

1. 73 % minority (=45)

2. 51 % male (=32)

3. 49 % female (=30)

4. 43 % African American (=23 and Samoan (=4)

5. 25% Native American (=6) or Latino (=10)

A total of 32 UA's had been taken to date at American Heritage/Middle College High School, in which 27 of the 32 were negative for substance use with 5 being + for THC and/or Meth. We did celebrate with the youth, their families, and/or their mentors at Game Works in Seattle. We also had significant grade increases amongst 20 youth and attendance increases across the board.

"Get In Where U Fit In"-Youth Violence and Gang Intervention and Prevention

The program focused on high-risk youth and young adults in the Seattle area. Our wrap-around case management program employed a combination of prevention, intervention, reentry, education, job training and skills development, family & community services, and suppression depending on the need of each client.

During the 18-month program, we served 182 youth in our target population. These youth were provided services including Case Management, Mentoring, Recreational Activities, Educational Activities, Life Skills Coaching and Substance Abuse Counseling.

Referrals were provided for Mental Health Counseling, Educational/Vocational opportunities and Mentoring. The youth we served are from the greater Seattle area and ranged in age from 7 to 24. The youth served during this program were 79% minority, 60% male/40% female, 53% African American, East African or mixed race African American, and 100% have come to our agency via our dynamic outreach efforts.

During the program we achieved a 100% success rate in its objective of ensuring each individual in the program achieves at least one outcome.

The success rates of our individual objectives are as follows:

*100% of the youth that have gang ties or influence have had a reduction in gang participation and related behavior.

*100% of the youth influenced by gang members have regularly participated in our program, therefore reducing the influence of gangs on their lives.

*93% of our youth with criminal issues have had a reduction in criminal behavior, admissions or detention days.

*98% of our youth have participated regularly in the case management program and/or Substance Abuse treatment program

*95% have been placed in an educational or vocational school program or continue to progress in their education.

*100% of those directed to a mentorship program have participated in that program

Additionally, with our substance abuse treatment program, our clients have achieved a 75% clean urinalysis sample rate.

Youth Employment Support Services (YESS) Grant

The Washington State Legislature recognizes that prevention, intervention, and suppression of behavioral problems and violence are necessary for at-risk youth to avoid involvement in the criminal justice system.

I provided oversight and administered the Youth Employment Support Services (YESS) Grant in 4 counties (King, Pierce, Kitsap, and Yakima). The Washington State Legislature recognized that prevention, intervention, and suppression of behavioral problems and violence are necessary for at-risk youth to avoid involvement in the criminal justice system. And RA was asked to contract with Community-Based Organizations to provide at-risk youth prevention and intervention services, including but not limited to, case management, employment services, educational services, vocational training and street outreach intervention programs.

The original amount of the grant was $400,000, but due to the outstanding work (376% Return on Investment) I did as an administrator, the legislator’s saw fit to increase the 2016-2017 amounts to $1,000,000. This would be at $500,000 per year, allowing more counties and programs to focus on providing criminal street gang reduction, intervention, and prevention services directly for youth.