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For Community Partners

Schools are invaluable members of Child and Family Teams

Working together for the youth we share.

We are here to support your students! If a student or family in your district is struggling emotionally or behaviorally in this CoVID social distancing environment...

Child Study Teams, Guidance and Student Assistant Counselors, School Nurses, Health/PE Teachers, Intervention & Referral Service team members, and Principals:

Contact us to arrange an on-site presentation for your school or district staff on the NJ Children's System of Care and BergenResourceNet. Learn more about our Collaboration Project with Schools.   Contact our Education Manager, Daria Tabbacchino dtabbacchino@bergenspromise.org

Invite us to give a presentation for parents, PTO, participate in your school's next wellness fair and/or offer Nurtured Heart Approach training for parents in your district! If you've participated in a recent in-service, we'd like to hear your feedback!

Encourage your students to take part in a Connecting With Our Communities service project to raise awareness of mental/emotional health, local resources and reduce stigma!

Wraparound services are available to young adults up to age 21

Colleges and Universities:

The Mobile Response and Care Management Services of the NJ Children's System of Care are a useful, no cost complement to the Health and Counseling Services available on your campus. We would be happy to meet with your Counseling and Health Services staff, Student Affairs, Residence Life and/or Wellness Peer staff to provide an overview of the confidential, in-community supports available through the NJ Children's System of Care at no cost to the students or the university/college.

Child & Family Team Education

FAQs for Schools

  • If a student needs a School Mental Health Assessment/Clearance, where should they go?

    The Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council of Bergen County (CIACC) maintains a resource “School Mental Health Assessments and Clearances: Listed Partners“ It is also always available on the CIACC page on BergenResourceNet.org for sustainable reference. It is reviewed and updated as needed each year.

  • How do I explain Bergen's Promise services to faculty and our school district's families?

    Review our Frequently Asked Questions for a simple, straightforward overview.   

    Contact us to arrange for:

    • An in-service for your district nurses, Child Study Team, Student Assistance Counselors, Guidance team, Health teachers, Advisory Group leaders and/or other interested teachers. 
    • Invite us to participate in your school's wellness fair!   
    • Invite us to table at your Back to School Night, and/or present at an upcoming PTA meeting!

     

  • How do I connect families to these no cost, in home services?

    It's an easy three step process to get families started.

  • Is there a limit to the number of times a parent can call PerformCare and/or a youth can be referred to Children’s System of Care services through Perform Care?

    There is no limit. A youth and family can call PerformCare as many times as needed up to the youth’s 21st birthday, regardless of prior enrollment(s) in CMO services through Perform Care.

     

  • A family in our district said they are receiving Care Management services – Why haven’t I heard from the Care Manager?

     

    When a family receives a referral from Perform Care, they are not always referred directly to Bergen’s Promise/Care Management Organization (CMO) at the time of referral.  Referrals are based on evaluations and information provided to Perform Care’s Care Coordinators on the call.  These determine the level of need for each youth and family. 

    There can be period of time (up to 8 weeks) where an in-home therapist is assigned to work with the youth and family through the Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization team.   The Children’s Mobile Response team is not required to contact the schools during this time.

    At the end of this approximate time frame, it is determined whether this youth is in need of a higher level of care (CMO) or outpatient services. The family may think they are connected to CMO, when in reality they actually have not yet been officially referred by PerformCare.

     

     

  • What can we expect when a family in our school district is referred to Bergen's Promise?

    • Collaboration

      Once Bergen's Promise receives a referral from PerformCare, the Care Manager will have an initial meeting with the family within 72 business hours pending the family's availability and preferences. The Care Manager will require permission from the family in order to include a school representative(s) on their Child and Family Team.

    • Communication

      If the family approves school involvement, the Care Manager will send this introductory letter to both the school and the school district within 7 days of the family approval. This letter informs the school of the date of the 30 day Child and Family Team (CFT) meeting and asks the school to designate a representative for the CFT.  A copy of the parent's consent form is also included in this communication from the Care Manager.

      The Care Manager will have at least one contact per month with the designated school representative.  The school representative will be invited to every Child and Family Team meeting thereafter.  These occur every 60-90 days typically and are held at a time convenient to the majority of CFT members.  Often they are held at the school.  If the school representative cannot attend, they will be asked to provide an email update regarding the needs, strategies, goals and schedule of the student related to school behavior and academics.  The Care Manager will also schedule a follow up call with the school representative to review what was discussed at the CFT.  Regular communication is key to the CFT process and the sustainable success of the student.

    • Knowledge

      The Care Manager will ensure that the education expectations of the school district, parent/caregiver, and Bergen's Promise are aligned with the student's education plan.  The Care Manager will request copies of the student's current Individualized Education Plan, report cards, 504 plan, behavior plans - all information regarding the student's history and current status as applicable.

  • Can a youth who is over 14 years of age refuse services and/or refuse their consent for communication with the school?

    Yes. A youth 14+ can refuse services, as services provided through Perform Care and Children’s System of Care are voluntary. Exceptions would be youth and family who are court involved where services are court ordered or court mandated, however even then they can refuse and CMO would only notify the court. A youth 14+ can refuse consent for their Care Manager to speak with the school and/or district.

     

  • Why should a member of our team be involved in a student's Child and Family Team if the student has no academic or behavioral issues in the classroom?

    Schools are invaluable members of the CFT regardless of whether or not a student has an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, and whether or not they demonstrate behavioral or academic concerns. If a student receives specialized services through the school such as physical, occupational, speech therapy, these can be replicated and utilized in the home.   If the student is thriving and successful in the school environment, the Child and Family Team members should share those techniques and strategies to replicate them in the home.

  • What can our school nurse expect if a student is enrolled in Behavioral Health Home (BHH)?

    Upon enrollment, a member of the BHH team will contact the school nurse to establish a collaborative relationship.  Health and wellness needs that arise in school can be brought to the attention of the BHH staff for discussion with the youth, family and Child Family Team as needed.  Additionally, BHH staff will ask the school nurse to measure the student's height, weight and blood pressure at least quarterly and share this information with the BHH staff member.  Collection of this information is a requirement of the BHH program, but it also encourages students to become familiar with their school nurse as an ongoing health and wellness resource.  If appropriate, BHH staff may work with the school nurse or other school staff to arrange in-school meetings with the student.

    Here is a sample School Nurse Introduction Letter and Tracking Form.

  • What type of in-home therapists may become part of a student's Child and Family Team?

    If a student is having a hard time managing emotions or behaviors, Intensive In-Community Therapists (IIC) and/or Behavioral Assistants (BA) may work with him/her.

    If a student is DD-eligible through the NJ Children's System of Care, Intensive In-Home clinicians (IIH) may join the team. There are IIH-Clinical therapists as well as IIH-Behavioral such as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA), Applied Behavior Analysts (ABA). Students that are DD-eligible with IIH-Clinical therapists may also have Individual Support Services (ISS) put in place as well for behavior and activity of daily living (ADL) skill training.

    Support may be provided to parents as well in the form of therapeutic parent coaching and parent mentoring.

    Please review the current Clinical Criteria for each of these service lines issued by the Division of Children's System of Care (CSOC) and utilized by PerformCare (the Contracted System Administrator for the NJ Children's System of Care).

  • What can we expect if a student is placed in Out of Home (OOH) treatment?

    Some students may require a higher level of therapeutic treatment in a residential setting. Out of Home treatment is an intervention, not a destination.  When a Child-Family team is considering OOH treatment as an intervention, the school will receive a formal letter from the Care Manager informing of this option, and inviting school staff to participate in the discussion regarding this strategy.  Review this presentation to better understand this process.    

    If you have further questions or concerns related to the OOH treatment process, contact Bergen's Promise Education Collaboration Manager, Daria Tabbacchino, BA at dtabbacchino@bergenspromise.org 201-777-5708.

     

    A youth 14+ can refuse Out of Home treatment services (OOH). OOH treatment services must be agreed upon by ALL Child and Family Team (CFT) members (including the youth). Exceptions would be I/DD youth or youth who are court involved where OOH treatment is court mandated. 

     

  • Are there any materials about Bergen's Promise available to provide to families in our school district?

    Bergen's Promise Educational Folders. These folders contain handouts that explain the Children's System of Care and the role of PerformCare. Also included are handouts describing Bergen's Promise care management services, our Wraparound Child Family Team approach and flyers about the BergenResourceNet. (Spanish Version also Available)

    There is also a 30 second PSA created by Bergen's Promise that the district can embed on the website or distribute via district email.  

     

  • Are there resources to share with families that speak languages other than English?

    Thanks to community partners, we have two bilingual presentations explaining the services of the NJ Children's System of Care and BergenResourceNet.org, the mobile friendly, online resource portal for Bergen County.  

    1.  Bilingual Spanish presentation for parents   as a post-Back to School Night event was recorded in partnership with Palisades Park School District. 

    2.  Bilingual Korean presentation for parents   as part of an Autism Seminar Series was recorded in partnership with the Korean Community Center and  Bergen County Special Child Health Services.  


    In addition, there are two simple 'How To' documents available to:

    1.  Auto-translating Bergen's Promise website into other languages using a Google Chrome browser

    2.   5 Steps--How to Turn On Auto-translate Close Captions for languages than English in YouTube videos

     

    There are many guides and brochures available in multiple languages on the Children's System of Care website.

     

     

     

  • Who can I contact if I am in need of assistance related to school referrals, communication with CMO staff, positive collaboration stories and any school related collaboration with Bergen’s Promise Care Managers?

    Please contact Daria Tabbacchino, Education Collaboration Manager

    Email - dtabbacchino@bergenspromise.org

    Direct Office: 201-777-5708

    Cell: 201-543-4487

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a diverse group of healthcare professionals

Fully integrated healthcare in action

Partnering with pediatricians, primary care providers, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and federally qualified health centers fosters healthy youth and a healthier community. Closer collaboration on behalf of shared youth/patients supports the medical home, promotes seamless care planning and reduces costs.

Contact us to arrange an on-site presentation for your pediatric residents, practice staff, Peds Emergency staff on the NJ Children's System of Care and BergenResourceNet.

FAQs for Healthcare Providers

  • How do I explain Bergen's Promise services to our healthcare staff and patients?

    Review these Frequently Asked Questions for a simple, straightforward overview.   Contact us to request an in-service for your clinicians, residents, intake department and other team members!

  • How do I connect our patients to these no cost, in home services?

    It's an easy three step process to get families started.

  • Are there any materials available to promote the Children’s System of Care Services to patients?

    Prescription Pad:  We have created a 2-sided, bilingual prescription pad that includes the common situations that might be discussed by the family during their child's well child visit.  These situations can be a 'trigger' for medical staff to inform the family of the Children's System of Care and encouraging them to call PerformCare for a referral.  This also informs the family of BergenResourceNet.org - the comprehensive resource directory for Bergen County.  You can download and print the prescription pad below, or contact us to request prescription pads to keep in your exam rooms.

    Prescription Pad for Healthcare Providers (Bilingual) 

    Bergen's Promise info folders (English, Spanish) for your practice.  These folders contain handouts that explain the Children's System of Care and the role of PerformCare.  Also included are handouts describing Bergen's Promise care management services, our Wraparound Child Family Team approach and flyers about the BergenResourceNet.  Contact us to request a quantity of Bergen's Promise folders.

    There are also many guides and brochures available in multiple languages on the Children's System of Care website.  PerformCare also has a 3 minute video with Spanish close captioning.

  • How do I know if one of my patients is receiving care management support through Bergen's Promise?

    Most of Bergen’s Promise families have approved the placement of a yellow sticker on their insurance cards with the youth’s Cyber ID. The Cyber ID number is the unique identifier for the Children’s System of Care electronic medical record. Inform your reception staff to watch for this Cyber ID sticker and make a note in the youth's chart.     

    If the family approves health care provider involvement, the Care Manager will send this introductory letter to the pediatric practice within 7 days of the family approval. This letter asks you to designate a representative for the Child and Family Team (CFT) meeting.  Your participation may be in the form that is most convenient for you. A copy of the parent's consent form is also included in this communication from the Care Manager.


     

  • What should we expect when a family in our practice is referred to your Care Management Organization?

    Collaboration!

    • Once Bergen’s Promise receives a referral from PerformCare, the Care Manager will have an initial meeting with the family within 72 business hours.
    • The Care Manager seeks permission from the family to include their primary care provider on their Child Family Team.

    Please contact us to explore an opportunity for a more collaborative care approach for shared youth/patients through a HIPAA Business Associates Agreement.

  • What should I expect if one of my patients is enrolled in Bergen's Promise Behavioral Health Home (BHH)?

    Upon enrollment, BHH staff will send a letter and HIPAA release informing the youth’s Primary Care Provider of the youth’s involvement with the program. BHH staff may request information or documentation from recent physicals or visits to confirm the youth’s needs and current health status. At times, BHH staff may accompany a patient during a visit to assist with communication and follow-through with provider recommendations. BHH staff invite open communication about the youth’s health needs from your perspective, and can provide updates on current wellness goals. BHH encourages communication between all members of the family’s healthcare team.

    Click here to see a sample PCP Introduction Letter. 

  • Why is Bergen's Promise requesting documentation for an emergency department visit or hospitalization?

    Bergen’s Promise is required by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to obtain a copy of discharge paperwork within 24 hours of a youth’s discharge from hospitalization. Bergen’s Promise is able to provide a copy of the youth’s HIPAA release if needed. Obtaining a copy of this paperwork, as well as discharge paperwork from emergency department visits, enables the child family team to review discharge plans to ensure that the family has the needed knowledge, resources, and supports to follow-through with recommendations. If a family informs you of their involvement with Bergen’s Promise, or if you notice a yellow Cyber ID sticker on the patient’s insurance card, discharge documentation should be faxed to 201-712-0391.

  • How can our practice support Bergen's Promise efforts to improve health literacy?

    Bergen's Promise strives to improve the health literacy of the families we serve so they can better manage their healthcare needs independently upon graduation from services.  Through a health literacy screening project, our agency found a high prevalence of low health literacy among our families.  Click here to review the 2017 Health Literacy Research Poster .  

    We encourage families to use tools like Ask Me 3® to improve their communication with healthcare providers.  We encourage you to share this resource with the patients in your practice; click here to access Ask Me 3 ®

    We have also been recognized as Health Literacy Heroes (https://healthliteracymonth.org/bergens-promise/). You can also learn more about our NJAMHAA Health Literacy presentation too. If you are interested in learning more, or partnering with us in our efforts to address health literacy, please contact us.

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Special Thanks to Our 2019 Healthcare Partners

young people participating in a group therapy session

Collaborative treatment planning creates sustainable outcomes

Bergen's Promise seeks collaborative partnerships with substance treatment providers serving our youth. The restrictive nature of substance treatment presents challenges for youth when returning to environments that may not be conducive to sustainable recovery.

Through the Wraparound approach, the youth and team can promote long term recovery by developing sustainable resources and strategies that can be used when there are stressors in the environment. Towards the end of their treatment, we collaborate on the service, discharge planning and aid their transition back into the community.

Please contact us to schedule a meeting to provide an in-service, for your staff and families, on partnership opportunities and our in-home care management support.

Medicaid providers at a table discussing a case

Licensed Medicaid Clinicians play a vital role in the Wraparound approach to care

**Review the CoVID-specific guidelines for Providers of Home and Community Based Services Operating Under Contract with the NJ Department of Children and Families

It is the policy of Bergen’s Promise to engage only licensed professionals in the provision of Intensive In-Community (IIC) and Intensive In-Home (IIH) services to our youth. Currently, we can only accept clinicians with an LAC or LSW – under the supervision of a fully-licensed LCSW, LPC or LMFT.

If you are a licensed Medicaid Provider that embraces the Wraparound Approach and want to play an impactful role as part of a Child & Family Team, please contact us to request to attend an upcoming Meet & Greet.  Register and promote your services on BergenResourceNet.org.