FY23-

There continues to be a need for additional resources for children and youth, particularly intensive outpatient services.  Additionally, there is a need for respite providers.  Parents/caregivers continue to identify this as a need, however there are too few providers, and many go without the resource because of the lack of providers. 

Expressive therapies like equine and arts therapies are not available because there are no providers on the Shore who can accept Medicaid reimbursement for these services.  Additionally, there are very few providers of services for the 1915i waiver.

It can be very discouraging to meet with a parent/guardian and have very little to offer them beyond what they have already been connected to. 

One note in FY23 is that more of the youth referred were already connected to resources in the community that in past years the LCT was recommending.  This is a good trend, meaning that agency workers and community providers are more aware of the resources available and are proactively making referrals directly instead of waiting to come to the LCT table. 

In a debriefing/planning session held 6/15/2023, Local Care Team member representatives discussed the LCT process and made suggestions that will be implemented in FY24 including starting the meeting 30 minutes earlier and offering mini trainings for members.  Starting in August 2023 these trainings will first focus on providing sitting member agency representatives with an opportunity to give an overview of the types of resources they can offer at the LCT table, and the process families need to follow to access those resources.  Additional recommendations included additional trainings for appropriate staff in each agency regarding the referral process, an info sheet for parents/guardians with what to expect from the LCT, an info sheet for staff presenting at LCT about what the expectations are, more notice/reminders about updates, brief case summaries prior to parent/guardian joining meetings.

:FY21

   It is important to note that the lack of community based resources (partial-day, respite homes that are appropriate, accessible therapists and access to psychiatrists) remain barriers to providing comprehensive services for children, youth and families struggling with behavioral health issues.  For families with children with significant developmental or physical disabilities, the resources are also limited.

Additionally, for those youth who need residential treatment the process for identifying a facility that will accept the youth is a tremendous obstacle for families who are struggling to meet the needs of their child.

Youth who are both DJS and DSS involved are sometimes held in detention awaiting a more appropriate placement.

Acute beds seem to be difficult to access for local hospitals and youth are sent home with parents/caregivers.

Staffing at agencies is stretched.  Caroline County has new staff from the director position to new social workers. 

The pandemic has increased the need and also increased the barriers to meeting the need.

Under Maryland Code (Human Services §8-407) a Local Care Team shall: 

1) be a forum for: 

    a) families of children with intensive needs to receive assistance with the identification of individual needs and potential resources to meet identified                 needs; and 

    b) interagency discussions and problem solving for individual child and family needs and systemic needs; 

2) refer children and families to: 

    a) care management entities when appropriate; and 

    b) available local and community resources; 

3) provide training and technical assistance to local agency and community partners; 

4) identify and share resource development needs and communicate with the care management entity, local core service agencies, provider networks, local management boards, and other local care teams in surrounding jurisdictions; and 

5) discuss a request for a voluntary placement agreement for a child with a developmental disability or a mental illness under § 5-525 of the Family Law Article.