Background
Background
The Connecting for Kids (C4K) Collaborative Dialogue is a community-driven initiative that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, to address the struggle in identifying and connecting youth with care. Many of the issues youth faced include:
- Mental and physical health challenges
- Social isolation
- Lack of access to usual therapies, medical care, and educational support
- Disruptions of traditional modes for early identification, support, and family-focused care
- Family stress related to finances and illness
- Disproportionate impact on people of color
While C4K efforts were fueled by COVID-19, the need to strengthen interprofessional collaboration and work more effectively and efficiently to address youth behavioral health is longstanding.
This collaborative, interdisciplinary effort included representatives from:
UR Medicine, Golisano Children’s Hospital; Monroe County BOCES; Rochester Regional Health; the Children’s Institute, GROW Rochester; Accountable Health Partners (AHP); Greater Rochester Independent Practice Association (GRIPA); Monroe County Office of Mental Health; Mental Health Association of Rochester; Family Counseling Services of the Finger Lakes; Coordinated Care Services, Inc.; Hillside Children’s Center; Mt. Hope Family Center; Jordan Health Center; ROC The Future; The Children’s Agenda; members of the Collaborative Care through Communication workgroup; NYS Project TEACH; Kids Thrive 585; United Way 211; Golisano Children’s Health Home; Monroe Hall of Justice; The Children’s Center; and others.