Worksheet: Developing Your Infrastructure for System Change and Enhanced Integration

Use this worksheet to 1) help you identify the system change strategies that are already in place in your community and 2) identify additional steps you would like to take to further advance the process of system change and enhanced integration.

A. Change Agents: Who are the leaders, champions
and advocates for system change in your community?
  1. ______
  1. ______
  1. ______
/ Is there anyone else who could/should be brought on board to help lead this effort?
1. ______
2. ______
B. Resources: What resources can be used to support this effort, both short-term and on a long-term basis?
  • Discretionary or one-time funds (from philanthropy, the business sector or other sources):
______
______
  • Expanding Existing Funds or Using Them Differently (targeting funds, broadening eligibility, enhancing allocations, integrating funding streams):
______
______
  • Creation of Dedicated Funding Streams (Trust fund, statutory set-aside, State level funding):
______
______
C. Data & Advocacy to Make the Case for System Change:
  • What data would help make the case for change? ______
______
  • What data is already in hand? ______
______
  • What new data could be collected? How and when? ______
______
______
  • What is the communication/advocacy strategy? Who are the target audiences? What written materials are needed? Who are the spokespeople?
______
______
______
D. Strategic Planning through a Collaborative Planning Process: What inter-agency planning groups already exist in your community? What role do they or could they plan in developing a strategic plan and in promoting the system change necessary to achieve an integrated system of care? (Continuum of Care, Ten Year Planning groups, Mental Health Commission, other groups)
______
______
______
______
  • Or what new body should be created for this effort?
______
______
  • Are there any additional stakeholders who should be invited to participate?
______
______
D. Strategic Planning through a Collaborative Planning Process con’t:
  • Has your community recently adopted a strategic plan on homelessness? Identify those recommendations which directly call for enhanced partnering, collaboration and/or integration in service delivery and those whose implementation would be facilitated by these efforts.
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
  • If your community does not yet have a strategic plan on homelessness, can an effort be organized to produce one? What would have to happen?
______
______
______
______
E. Strategic Partnerships: What strategic partnerships are in place in your community? Do they have formal Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) in place? How can these partnerships be enhanced or expanded?
PARTNERSHIP AGENCIES / LEVEL OF COLLABORATION
(info sharing, joint service provision, blended staffing, joint financing, formal MOA in place, etc)? / HOW CAN THE PARTNERSHIP BE STRENGTHENED?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
F. Strategic Partnerships con’t: What additional partnerships are needed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of care provided to clients and/or to improve the overall functioning of the system of care? Identify the agencies (both mainstream and homeless agencies) and the type of collaboration that should be involved.
Potential Partner Agencies / Type of Collaboration
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
F. Mechanisms that Promote Enhanced Organizational Connections and Service Integration: Put a  next to the mechanisms which are in place in your community? For these, identify the agencies involved and indicate whether the mechanism can or should be enhanced or expanded. Put a  next to those mechanisms which are not in place but are needed in your community. For these, identify which agencies should be involved and what initial steps can be taken toward implementation?
Mechanism / 
 /
Agencies Involved
Agencies Which Should
Be Involved / Enhance Mechanism?
Initial Steps Needed
1. Uniform Applications, Eligibility Criteria & Intake Assessments
2. Co-Located Services
3. Inter-Agency Planning Group
4. Training & Technical Assistance
  1. Systemwide MIS

Mechanism / 
 /
Agencies Involved
Agencies Which Should
Be Involved / Enhance Mechanism?
Initial Steps Needed
6. Strategies to Match Clients With Services & Housing
7. Interagency Service Delivery Teams
8. Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
9. Supportive Housing
10. Every Door The “Right” Door To Access Assistance
11. Discharge Planning
Policies
12. Special Waivers
Mechanism / 
 /
Agencies Involved
Agencies Which Should
Be Involved / Enhance Mechanism?
Initial Steps Needed
13. Consolidate Programs or Agencies
14. Coordinator Position
15. Use of Incentives and/or Requirements
16. Pooled or Joint Funding
17. Systemwide Quality Assurance Process

Based on this evaluation of the system change infrastructure and strategies that are currently in place in your community and those which are needed, what are your next three steps for advancing this process?

Step 1. ______

______

Step 2. ______

______

Step 3. ______

______

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