Positive Approaches Journal, Volume 10, Issue 3

Positive Approaches Journal | 5

Introduction

Many people who have complex needs require thoughtful, creative, and integrated supports that entail out-of-the-box thinking and cross-system collaboration. To that end, Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs and Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse have made a commitment to strengthen existing and viable models and initiatives while also exploring additional opportunities, including funding prospects, that could bolster innovative approaches to meet people’s needs. This issue will focus on ways that Pennsylvania has endeavored to better understand and meet the needs of people with complex needs, including children with medical complexities and/or behavioral health needs, and offer an overview of cross-office capacity-building efforts supported in part by the Money Follows the Person (MFP) funds. Finally, this issue will provide overviews of peer support services as a viable support model and of the PA Care Partnership philosophy of System of Care (SOC) as a foundation to build behavioral health supports and services for children, youth, young adults, and their families. These efforts are worthy of highlighting as we strive to get better at supporting individuals with intellectual disability and/or autism (ID/A) and individuals with mental health conditions in Pennsylvania.