One of the goals at DHS is to integrate mental health care and services across other specialties, disciplines and agencies. Because children with mental health needs are often involved with multiple services systems, it makes sense to find ways to connect systems to coordinate care for children with mental health diagnoses. This means coordinating children's mental health services with substance abuse treatment, primary care, juvenile corrections, education, child welfare, and other services.
Integrating or coordinating services among providers or programs serving the same children reduces duplication, fragmentation and gaps in services. It can also improve service access, delivery and family satisfaction. Successful service integration requires commitment to collaboration and coordination within and across various settings in both the public and private sectors. Providers partner at the both the system and service levels to plan, develop and deliver services to children with interrelated challenges.
Some of the ways DHS supports the integration of services:
