Shared Agenda
Overview
Mental Health, Schools and Families Working Together for All Children and Youth: Toward a Shared Agenda - Ohio's Initiative
Research is fast accumulating on the urgency of removing non-cognitive barriers to learning and on strategies that bring families, schools and mental health professionals together to improve behavioral and academic outcomes for children and youth. In our tight economic times, and in light of the federal educational mandate to "leave no child behind," it is imperative that we adopt effective, collaborative strategies that promote the well-being of all children and youth.
Ohio has been recognized nationally as a leader in building and expanding collaboration across education, mental health and family-serving organizations in developing a shared agenda for children's mental health and school success. This work has been funded in part by a grant awarded in October 2002 from the Policymaker Partnership (PMP) at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) and the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD). In Ohio, the policymaking leadership of education, mental health and family serving organizations is engaging with state and local partners to generate a commitment to addressing non-cognitive barriers to learning to support successful academic achievement for all children and youth.
In 2001, the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), in partnership with The Ohio State University Center for Learning Excellence (CLEX), and with participation of the Governor's office and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE), convened a hearing that served as a "call to action" for Ohioans to improve mental health and school success for all children.
The Hearing Summary and Resource Guide, and a more recent follow-up publication, have been disseminated widely throughout the state. Concurrent with the 2001 hearing, the Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success was formed, consisting of action networks spearheaded by affiliate organizations in six regions of the state. Currently the Network is funded by ODMH and ODE led the Center for School-Based Mental Health Programs (CSBMHP) at Miami University. The mission of the Network is to help Ohio's school districts, community-based agencies and families work together to achieve improved academic and mental health outcomes for all children.
Ohio's Shared Agenda Initiative is being implemented within the collaborative infrastructure of the Network. The four phases of Ohio's shared agenda initiative have included:
I. A statewide forum for leaders of mental health, education and family policymaking entities in March 2003;
II. Six regional forums held for policy implementers and consumer stakeholders in April and May 2003;
III. A legislative forum involving key leadership of relevant house and senate committees in October 2003; and
IV. Ongoing policy/funding advocacy and technical assistance to develop and promote an action plan for implementation of the recommendations from Phases I through III derived from the forums, with coordination by a steering committee. An Appreciative Inquiry model for promotion of systems-level change and transformation informed the process (Cooper-Rider and Whitney, 1999).
Across the six regional forums in Phase II, various features included cross-stakeholder panel discussions, youth and parent testimony, showcasing of promising work and facilitated discussion structured to promote collaboration and explore implementation issues.
Recommendations were derived from the facilitated discussion of the forums, which provided the framework for the October 9, 2003 Legislative Forum.
The Legislative Forum was convened by a panel of legislators, chaired by State Senator John Carey and State Representative Merle Grace Kearns. Adult and student panelists shared personal testimonies, findings and recommendations from the Phase I and II forums.
Presentations were made by Michael Hogan, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Chair of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, and by Jane Wiechel, Associate Superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education. The legislative panel heard compelling testimony and exchanged ideas with students, parents, educators, mental health professionals and other interested parties from across the state.
In Phase IV, the Shared Agenda steering committee formed an ad hoc group consisting of strategically selected participants representing state-level and regional stakeholders.
The findings and recommendations from Phases I through III have been developed into Guiding Principles, Goals and Objectives, which will be promoted broadly throughout Ohio.