The State of Connecticut, in collaboration with the Bridgeport public schools, parents, and community service providers, has received federal funding through SAMHSA (the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) of the Department of Health and Human Services to create a school-based system of care (the Partnership for Kids or PARK Project) for children with serious behavioral and emotional problems and their families. The project will achieve its mission of creating a community where all children can be successful in their homes, schools, and communities by: (1) Building upon KidCare, the existing statewide reform that is creating a system of care in Bridgeport that ensures that children and families receive care that is child centered, family focused, and is respectful of the cultural diversity of those receiving services, by adding specialized care coordinators to the existing Student Assistance Teams of identified schools; (2) providing training to school personnel in the targeted schools on how to provide positive behavioral interventions and supports to children; (3) creating a Federation of Families chapter in Bridgeport to train and support parents as advocates for their children; (4) developing a youth leadership movement to give children and youth a voice in decision making that affects them; and (5) developing a social marketing plan that increases the knowledge in the community of children's mental health issues and ensures sustainability of the project; (6) using the information gained from evaluating the components of program to make changes that will improve how services are delivered in Bridgeport.
