CONNECTIONS
Welcome to CONNECTIONS
Connections is the Wayne County System of Care. The System of Care is an approach to services that recognizes the importance of family, school and community, and seeks to promote the full potential of every child and youth by addressing their physical, emotional, intellectual, cultural and social needs.
CONNECTIONS Groups & Committees
Baby Court Steering Committee
Baby Court Steering Committee is a multidisciplinary team (Community Mental Health (CMH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Court Judge and Attorneys) of key stakeholders who meet to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the "Baby Court" model within Wayne County.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: Varies
- Time: Varies
- Location: S. Central DHHS
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS)/Preschool and Early Childhood Functional Assessment Scale (PECFAS)
Quarterly meeting to analyze project outcomes and review CAFAS and PECFAS trainings within the provider network.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Day: 1st Thursday
- Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
- Location: 707 W. Milwaukee
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Children's Practice Standards Taskforce
Meeting to standardize workforce development procedures and practices for children's system of care providers.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: 4th Tuesday
- Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
- Location: Varies
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Children's System Transformation (CST)
Key children's services leaders assist in the defining operational issues, workforce development activities and advising the Director of Children's Initiatives.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: 4th Friday
- Time: 9:00am -10:30pm
- Location: 707 W. Milwaukee
- Contact Info: sruza1@dwihn.org
Cross Systems Management (CSM)
Leaders of the system of care partners charge to operationalize system changes within their organization through policy and process development.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 4th Wednesday
- Time: 9:00am -11:00am
- Location: Rotates
- Contact Info: sruza1@dwihn.org
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Special Projects Committee
The DHHS Special Projects Committee Meeting focuses on macro level concerns (identifying and eliminating cross system barriers, policy development and implementation) in regards to the DHHS/CMH Special Projects which include Serious Emotional Disturbance Waiver (SEDW), Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED), the Intellectual/Developmental Disability (I/DD) population and General Fund (GF) Benefit
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 1st Tuesday
- Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
- Location: Rotates
- Contact Info: mhampton@dwihn.org
Early Childhood Task Force
Leadership providing operational oversight to the zero to six population including including Infant Mental Health (IMH); reports to Children's Standards of Care and Children’s System Transformation.
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 1st Wednesday
- Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
- Location: Rotates
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Fatherhood Initiative Committee (Wayne County)
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: 2nd Friday
- Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm
- Location: The Children’s Center
- Contact Info: jmiles@thechildrenscenter.com
Great Start Collaborative
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Day: Varies
- Time: Varies
- Location: Varies
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Home-Based Meeting
Meeting Info
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 1st Monday
- Time: 9:00am - 10:00am
- Location: 707 W. Milwaukee
- Contact Info: mhampton@dwihn.org
Human Services Community Collaborative (HSCC)
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 1st Friday
- Time: 9:30am - 11:30am
- Location: Assured Family Services
- Contact Info: sruza1@dwihn.org
Juvenile Justice Partnership
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Day: 2nd Wednesday
- Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
- Location: Lincoln Center
- Contact Info: sruza1@dwihn.org
Parent Support Partner System of Care Advisory Council
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: 3rd Monday
- Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
- Location: Family Alliance for Change
- Contact Info: dmartinez@swsol.org
Transition Age Youth Leadership
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Day: 3rd Wednesday
- Time: 12-30pm-2pm
- Location: Southwest Counseling Solutions
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Trauma Leadership
- Frequency: Bi-Monthly
- Day: 1st Tuesday
- Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm
- Location: 70 E. Ferry
- Contact Info: morme1@dwihn.org
Wayne County Youth Involvement Committee
- Frequency: Quarterly
- Day: 3rd Wednesday
- Time: 4:30pm - 6:00pm
- Location: Rotates
- Contact Info: bmiles@dwihn.org
Wraparound Project Team
- Frequency: Monthly
- Day: 4th Monday
- Time: 9:30am - 11:00am
- Location: Varies
- Contact Info: mhampton@dwihn.org
Human Services Community Collaborative
The History
Originally, the Wayne County Human Services Coordinating Body (HSCB) was created in 1993 as a governance entity for Michigan Interagency Family Preservation Initiative in Wayne County. As recommended by the Michigan's System Reform task Force in 1995 the HSCB became the State designated Multipurpose Collaborative Body for all Wayne County Interagency initiatives.
Currently
The Human Services Community Collaborative (HSCC) is the designated Multi-Purpose Collaborative Body for Wayne County and serves as the authoritative and collaborative resource to designated bodies; public and private agencies, consumers, youth, and other community groups, in the development of more integrated and efficient services affecting Wayne County's human services network.
Youth Involvement
Positive youth development, refers to intentional efforts of other youth, adults, communities, government agencies, and schools to provide opportunities for youth to enhance their interests, skills, and abilities into their adulthoods. Youth development overall is the physical, social, and emotional processes that occur during the adolescent period, from ages 10 until 24 years. It is the process through which young people acquire the cognitive, social, and emotional skills and abilities required to navigate life.
Youth United is a youth lead initiative whose purpose is to promote youth voice and youth partnership in Wayne County in partnership with Connections and its stakeholder using positive youth development values and philosophy. Youth United believes youth involvement and youth voice are necessary solutions to meet the needs of youth and families in systems of care.
Youth United
Youth United (YU) is an initiative that promotes advocacy and action among young people by using positive values and philosophy. YU advocates are passionate and not afraid to have courageous conversations about bullying, gun violence, human trafficking, substance use, mental illness, diversity, equity and inclusion, and breaking down stigmas and stereotypes.
Youth United is staff by Lead Youth Advocates who are charged with engaging other youth, promoting youth involvement at the community level, participating in system of care activities and educating stakeholders through their work.
The Youth United Council is comprised of youth 18-25 years of age that have past or present involvement in different systems of care on Wayne County. The Council is assembled to assist policy makers with decisions regarding systems of care that affect youth and families in Wayne County. The council participates in activities and projects aimed at moving the Wayne County System of Care (SOC) and Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS) towards a Youth Driven System of Care.
Youth who participate in Youth United activities learn to be socially, mentally, and morally capable. Youth are able to develop their abilities and strengths, along with communicate and collaborate with leaders in Wayne County System of Care.Youth United promotes positive youth development by preparing youth to be effective leaders in their communities and being the change that they want to see happen in their communities.
For more information and/or to connect with a Youth Ambassador, send email to: wcyouthunited@dwihn.org, or call 313-989-9327.
Parent Involvement
Family Alliance for Change
The Family Alliance for Change provides a family/youth friendly atmosphere where family support, advocacy, referrals, resources and education are offered to all Wayne County Families.
Family Alliance for Change is a division of Development Centers. Family Alliance for Change is a parent-driven, peer-to-peer service with the objectives of supporting, educating and empowering parents with special needs children to meet their family's goals. Our services include Parent Support Partners and Parent Partners to provide individual supports that help families connect to community resources; System of Care Parent training for parents in Wayne County; support groups, father groups, and opportunities to meet with legislative representatives with regards to policy changes.
About Us
Wayne County Families receive services locally that promote dignity, pride and respect; and that all services are responsive to the needs of the families. Families actively partner with all systems, at all levels to provide family voice and choice which will ultimately improve and impact how families receive service locally, statewide and nationally.
- FAFC believes all families have value and are respected.
- FAFC's reputation in the community as a respectful, non-threatening and safe environment for staff, families and youth grows.
- FAFC is a dedicated and strong advocate providing a voice for youth and families.
- FAFC remains open to all -- no one gets turned away.
- FAFC is respectful of diverse cultures and responsive to each family's unique needs.
- FAFC promotes peer-to-peer mentoring for families and youth.
- We work to create an environment where questions are valued and independence and change is essential.
- We empower families by working as partners and peers with families.
- We act with respect, honesty, and transparency to build true partnerships that will create change.
- We work to keep families involved in treatment by providing support and resources.
- We connect and unify parents so they know they are not alone.
- We serve as good faith mediators between systems and families.
- We break down stigma by being strong educators of children and youth about mental health and developmental disabilities.
- By bringing all types of people together we promote a spirit of collaboration at all levels: family and systems.
- We offer peer-to-peer mentoring and parent support services that are culturally competent and sensitive.
- We create change through our partnerships, advocacy, and promotion of system of care values.
Parent Support Partners (PSP)
A Parent Support Partner is a parent/caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral or other mental health challenges. A PSP beings their own life experiences, skills and knowledge to support and empower other parents who are facing challenges and barriers. They are respectful and non-judgmental; a PSP values the decisions of parents to be their own best advocate and to make the decisions for their families. The Parent Support Partner is a member of the treatment team and is a critical part of the service planning and implementation.
A PSP always believes that parents should use their voice and should have all the resources to make informed choices and be able to act on them.
PSP Service Criteria
- Resident of Wayne County
- Medicaid Recipient
- Have a child diagnosed with SED (Serious Emotional Disturbance)
- Receive Community Mental Health Services/CMH services
Additional Resources
CONNECTIONS is a collaborative effort involving a wide range of partners throughout Wayne County and Michigan.
- American Indian Health and Family Services
- Arab-American Chaldean Council (ACC)
- Arab-American Community Center for Economic & Social Service (ACCESS)
- Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan
- Black Family Development, Inc.
- Bridgeway Services
- Children's Hospital of Michigan
- Community Care Service
- Community Living Services
- Community Social Services
- Department of Children and Family Services
- Detroit Central City
- Detroit Wayne Connect
- Eastern Michigan University
- Family Alliance for Change
- Great Start Collaborative
- Hegira Health, Inc.
- Juvenile Assessment Center
- Kids TALK Children's Advocacy Center
- Lincoln Behavioral Services
- MiSide
- Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
- Michigan State University
- Northeast Guidance Center
- Services for LGBTQ2S Youth - Ruth Ellis Center
- Southwest Counseling Solutions
- Starfish Family Services
- The Children's Center
- The Guidance Center
- University of Michigan
- Vista Maria
- Wayne County Third Circuit Court
- Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency
- Wayne State University
- Western Michigan University
- Youth United (Facebook)