Psychiatric Facility and School Transition Initiative

The Psychiatric Facility and School Initiative is designed to improve the transition of youth from psychiatric facilities to their homes, schools and communities. The project is a grassroots effort that is coordinated by parents, teens, school personnel, hospital staff, community providers and interested citizens throughout the state. It includes three major components 1) bringing community providers, schools and hospitals together to share innovative programs; 2) training for school, crisis unit and hospital staff and 3) establish a protocol that facilitates communication to assist youth returning from psychiatric facilities.

The Initiative began in southern Maine but in May expanded statewide with a full-time staff person working on the project. The program has staff trained in 8 psychiatric hospitals, 5 crisis units and 33 school districts on the protocol as well as confidentiality and family and youth perspective. Representatives from the participating schools, hospitals and crisis units meet three times a year to discuss relevant issues about supporting youth as they transition back to the community. In addition, there were trainings on mental illness to staff in schools. There is a workgroup in place through DHS and BDS to review Medicaid policy and the expectation for hospital staff to be in contact with schools. Further, the statewide collaborative partners are working closely with state agencies on streamlining efforts to support youth transitioning back to school. Finally, regional network forums for the community were held in southern Maine on peer support programs and in northern Maine on innovative school programs supporting. A Resource Fair and Workshops are scheduled for Feb in Central Maine.

A Region II Children's Behavioral Health Resource Fair and workshops took place on Feb 4th in Augusta. The fair was very well attended by parents, teens, and community providers. 40 agencies were represented and there was standing room only at the workshops. One workshop included a panel of representatives from Spring Harbor Hospital, Crisis & Counseling, Youth & Family Services as well as a parent and a teen. Another workshop focused on school programs that have supported youth with emotional and behavioral needs. It was a great collaborative effort sponsored by the Regional Children's Cabinet, Ken/SOM Local Service Systems, The Psychiatric Facility and School Transition Initiative and Schools Need Parents.