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Life Raft for Kids

 

This 2-part series, presented by the CA Alliance of Child and Family Services, will provide participants with information about policy changes through CalAIM that can be used to improve access and expand services for children, youth, and families, and discuss how these changes impact opportunities to build local partnerships, collectively design programming, and ensure sustainable mental health services. The first session, CalAIM’s Potential to Address Unmet Needs for Children and Youth, will be a webinar-style training providing foundational information. The second session, Creating Sustainable Programs at the Local Level, will be an interactive workshop with facilitated discussion. Registration is required for each session. While attendance at the first session is not required to attend the second session, we strongly recommend that you EITHER attend the first session or watch the recording and review the related materials before attending the second session.

 

 

 

 

Session 1 of this series was presented on February 1, 2024

 

 

TRAINING MATERIALS & RESOURCES:

 

TRAINING DETAILS:

Learn about how policy changes through California Advancing and Improving MediCal (CalAIM) can be used to improve access to and expand services for children, youth, and families in or at risk of Child Welfare involvement.

 

Learners will:

  • Identify at least 3 components of the CalAIM Initiative.
  • Understand the difference between county mental health plans and managed care plans.  
  • Identify 3 new services that can be claimed to MediCal as part of the state’s CalAIM Initiative.

 

Who should attend: Leaders and staff of family resource centers, community-based organizations, child abuse prevention councils (CAPCs), and other child- and family-serving systems; Comprehensive Prevention Planning lead agency staff, County Prevention Planning Teams; and ILT or System of Care involved county leaders.

 

 

 

Session 2 of this series was presented on March 7, 2024

TRAINING MATERIALS & RESOURCES:

TRAINING DETAILS:

This training will provide participants with tangible information about how to build partnerships locally, collectively design programming for children, youth, and families, and ensure sustainability in funding mental health services.

 

Learners will:

  • Learn about specific funding to support services for children, youth, and families through statewide reforms
  • Identify both one time and ongoing funding to support mental health services for children and youth 

 

Who should attend: Leaders and staff of family resource centers, community-based organizations, child abuse prevention councils (CAPCs), and other child- and family-serving systems; Comprehensive Prevention Planning lead agency staff, County Prevention Planning Teams; and ILT or System of Care involved county leaders.


IMPORTANT TRAINING INFORMATION:

  • This is an interactive training. Please be prepared to participate in activities such as group discussion, break out rooms, and/or demonstration. Your training experience will be best with the use of a web cam, audio, and a training environment conducive to active participation.
  • This training will be recorded. The recording will be available to registered learners within 2 days of the training.
  • By registering for a CalTrin training, you consent to be added to the CalTrin mailing list.

 

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Adrienne is the Vice President of Public Policy & Strategy, overseeing the work of the Policy Team. She is a recognized expert in mental health policy who has devoted her career to improving the well-being of people living with brain illness and substance use disorders. Adrienne became involved in mental health policy as a key staff person in the campaign to pass the 2004 Mental Health Services Act. Prior to her position with the CA Alliance, she worked in various roles to carry out the vision for services laid out in the law, including Director of Government Affairs for the County Behavioral Health Directors Association.

Before joining CBHDA, Adrienne was a senior associate with the nonprofit California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions and a senior policy analyst with the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies. She has been a champion for culturally relevant program design, incorporating peer support as a crucial piece of recovery, and using evaluation and outcomes-based reporting to drive strategy. Shilton has served as an adviser on statewide efforts and currently sits on multiple task forces working to improve behavioral health policy in California, with a particular focus on youth, young adults, and families.

 

 

ADRIENNE SHILTON, MPP

VP of Public Policy and Strategy, CA Alliance of Child
and Family Services and the Catalyst Center

 

Christine Stoner-Mertz leads the California Alliance of Child and Family Services and its Catalyst Center and, with the Board of Directors, drives the mission and vision of the organization. A licensed clinical social worker, Chris came to the Alliance in 2019 after being President and CEO of Lincoln Families in Oakland, a California Alliance member agency delivering behavioral health and family strengthening services in the San Francisco Bay area. Since 2005, she led the organization through a transformational period, moving from a residentially-based services focus to designing an array of culturally responsive community and school-based services for children and youth ages 0-21. Her deep commitment to equity is reflected in the transformation of services at Lincoln.

Chris began her career in California in 1985, as co-founder of Seneca Center, now the Seneca Family of Agencies, where she was instrumental in program development and oversight of operations for 15 years. She also founded inFocus Consulting and Development, LLC, providing consultation to over 50 private behavioral healthcare providers as well as the California State Department of Mental Health, county departments of mental health and social services, and school districts. As an expert on MediCal EPSDT program design and implementation, Chris developed the Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services Manual. 

She has served on the board of directors of the California Alliance, the California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the National Council of Mental Wellbeing, and has been the recipient of numerous service and leadership awards during her career, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service. 

 

 

CHRISTINE STONER-MERTZ, LCSW

CEO, CA Alliance of Child and Family Services
and the Catalyst Center