Project Grant H79SM083922

PA PARENT AND FAMILY ALLIANCE (PARENT ALLIANCE) - THE PENNSYLVANIA PARENT AND FAMILY ALLIANCE (PARENT ALLIANCE), A PROGRAM OF ALLEGHENY FAMILY NETWORK (AFN), WILL EXPAND AND ENHANCE FAMILY VOICE IN CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND RELATED SYSTEMS BY EXPANDING ITS STATEWIDE ALLIANCE OF FAMILY LEADERS AND PROVIDER PARTNERS. THE PARENT ALLIANCE WILL COORDINATE FAMILY VOICES FROM ACROSS THE STATE BY IMPROVING SKILLS AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF POLICIES SO FAMILIES CAN MEANINGFULLY PARTICIPATE IN DECISION MAKING FORUMS TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SIGNIFICANT EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES (SED). THE PARENT ALLIANCE PROGRAM WAS CREATED IN 2018 WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK GRANT AND HAS IN ITS FIRST TWO YEARS CREATED A STRUCTURE FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SED TO COME TOGETHER TO LEARN AND NETWORK TO BECOME ACTIVE ON LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND STATEWIDE COMMITTEES AND COUNCILS. USING ITS STATEWIDE NETWORK OF FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS, THE PARENT ALLIANCE HAS BEGUN TO IDENTIFY FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH SED AND PROVIDE THEM WITH INFORMATION AND RESOURCES NECESSARY TO ACCESS THE TREATMENT AND SERVICES THEIR CHILDREN NEED AND ENHANCE THE SKILLS OF FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. THE PARENT ALLIANCE ALSO WILL SUPPORT EMERGING FAMILY-RUN ORGANIZATIONS BY OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT COUNTY AND STATE STAKEHOLDERS WITH CONFIDENT AND COMPETENT FAMILY PARTNERS WHO CAN HELP PLAN AND DEVELOP POLICIES, AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDERS WORKING WITH CHILDREN WITH SED TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES FAMILIES FACE IN ORDER TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICE OUTCOMES. THE GOALS OF THE PARENT ALLIANCE ARE: 1. INCREASE FAMILY AND PROVIDER UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGE'S CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SED FACE BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, REFERRALS AND SUPPORT AS APPROPRIATE. 2. INCREASE FAMILY MEMBERS OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE DIVERSE AND EDUCATED INPUT INTO PLANNING AND POLICIES OF LOCAL AND STATE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES BY OFFERING SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. 3. PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO FAMILY-RUN ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE INTERESTED IN STARTING A FAMILY-RUN ORGANIZATION AND AGENCIES INTERESTED IN ENHANCING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES. 4. WORK WITH OUR PARTNERS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARENT PEER SPECIALISTS (PPS) THROUGH AWARENESS, TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENTS, CREDENTIALING, FOLLOW UP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND COACHING OPPORTUNITIES. DURING THIS GRANT CYCLE, 10 ORGANIZATIONS WILL RECEIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, 3,670 FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS, 1500 FAMILIES, PROVIDERS AND SYSTEM PARTNERS WILL BE TRAINED AND THE NUMBER OF PARENT PEER SPECIALISTS ACROSS THE STATE WILL INCREASE BY 10% EACH YEAR.