Keeping Maine's Children Connected
A Maine Children's Cabinet Initiative
An Integrated Approach to Help Children and Youth
Who Experience School disruption to: Homelessness,
Foster Care Placement, Correctional Facility Placement,
In-Patient Psychiatric Care and/or High Mobility
Role of Liaison
Within Correctional Facilities, School District, State Agencies, and In-Patient Psychiatric Facilities
- Determines who is/are the best person/team within “the agency”* to assist with the student’s support plan.
- Encourages use of natural communication channels that already exist in their “own agency”*
- Assists with the process if there is a breakdown in communication, i.e., can work with staff within own “agency”* or among “agencies”* to facilitate communication and support of children and youth.
- Reviews internal protocol of own “agency”* to enhance communication among staff who can assist youth
- Attends (or sends designee to) regional liaison meetings that are held 2 to 3 times a year.
- Informs own staff of new policies or programs or resources regarding these children and youth.
The person in this capacity should:
- Have knowledge of confidentiality laws
- Have knowledge of protocols and staffing of “agency”*
- Have ability to work with administrative and general staff to review internal protocols
- Have ability to communicate information from regional liaison meetings with appropriate staff from own “agency”.
- Have general understanding of policies and issues affecting these children and youth and is willing to participate in ongoing professional development when appropriate
- Have general knowledge of program or resources affecting these children and youth.
- Be willing to participate in ongoing professional development for carrying out this role.
* *(The term agency will be used to describe correctional facilities, school districts, state agency and in-patient psychiatric facilities in the description below)
