System of Care Academy: Selected Innovations in Response to the Crisis within Kentucky’s System of Care

This session will describe the nature of the behavioral health crisis in Kentucky for children, youth, and families by sharing both national and state factors contributing to the crisis as well as data demonstrating the nature of the impact. Building on Kentucky’s 30 year history of working within the system of care philosophical framework, state agencies and other partners have been poised to take a collective approach to the crisis through joint planning and coordinated response. Kentucky’s collaborative response to the crisis including both infrastructure supports and selected cross-agency service system innovations will be described. Finally, presenters will share key examples of how Kentucky has aligned its response with system of care values and principles to turn a system crisis into opportunities for system growth.

Each year, SOC Academy serves a diverse audience that includes advocates, clinicians, case managers, prevention specialists, peer support specialists, educators, faith-based leaders, psychologists/psychiatrists, child care providers, Family Resource & Youth Services Center staff, juvenile justice staff, family and juvenile services staff, community-based services staff, child welfare staff, public health staff, families and youth with lived experience, interested community members, and more. Last year SOC Academy was offered as a learning series, and it hosted 1438 attendees representing 32 states.

The Academy is convened by Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health America of Kentucky.

Continuing education units will be available, pending board approvals, and the website will be updated as approved. American Sign Language (ASL Interpreters) and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) will be available upon request.