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2022 Strengths and Needs Assessment
Acknowledgements:
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This report would not have been possible without the dedicated team of individuals who lent their time, expertise, and insights. YFC owes a debt of gratitude to the following youth and family members, as well as to all those who filled out our surveys. Thank you!
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C. Callahan, C. Robinson, J. Rose, K. Foster, K. Lewis, L. Pacheco, and S. Maharaj-Lewis.
Summary
The following report is offered to the community as an opportunity to follow the lead of youth and families to identify gaps and plan improvements in the regional System of Care. The voices of youth and families are represented herein through a combination of survey data and focus group results. Reports issued by state and national organizations were consulted to round out our recommendations:
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YFC should continue to make concerted efforts to promote training opportunities to system partners – particularly school staff and faculty – that reflect the priorities of youth and families.
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YFC and education partners should begin to work in earnest on promoting the development of school behavioral health clubs in the 2022-2023 school year through YFC’s Outreach Committee.
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YFC should add a new goal to YFC’s Work Plan regarding child welfare placement disruptions and youth homelessness based on the priority youth and families place on safe and stable housing.
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YFC should reach out to pediatricians and other primary care providers based on the priority youth and families place on health.
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YFC's Outreach Committee should develop cards to hand out to people that help them prepare for behavioral health appointments.
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YFC's website resource pages should point website visitors to local directories so that resources are more easily identified. Invite resource list keepers to speak at upcoming YFC meetings.
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YFC should find out what public information campaigns are already out there regarding behavioral health and amplify them – scale them up.
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YFC should recommend that the state reduce administrative burdens.
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YFC should create a youth leadership page for YFC’s website that links to resources, programs, and opportunities.
Works Cited
Community Action of Skagit County. (2021). June Agency Access List. Mount Vernon, WA.
Community Action of Skagit County. (2021). August Agency Access List. Mount Vernon, WA.
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Health Care Authority of WA. (2022). WISe Quality Management Plan, CANS 5+ Quarterly Report for Quarter 2, 2022 North Sound. Lacey, WA.
Mental Health America. (2021). Addressing the Youth Mental Health Crisis: The Urgent Need for More Education, Services, and Supports. Alexandria, VA.
Office of the Washington State Auditor Pat McCarthy. (2021). Performance Audit – K-12 Student Behavioral Health in Washington: Opportunities to Improve Access to Needed Supports and Services. Report Number: 1028626. Olympia, WA.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy. (2021). Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. Washington D.C.