System Development and Sustainability Strategies
Studies of SOC sites are being conducted to better understand how system implementation factors contribute to a local community's ability to develop systems of care for children with serious emotional disturbance and their families, and integrate these factors into system development efforts. Findings will advance efforts to serve this priority population and will provide a better understanding of effective theories of change for systems of care. Questions being addressed are:
- How do local communities use the systems of care implementation factors to achieve outcomes for a local population of children with serious emotional disturbance?
- Are system implementation factors used in specific or unique combinations to develop local systems of care?
- How does local context influence systems of care development?
- Why and under what conditions are specific system implementation factors critical to successful systems-of-care development?
- What conditions support or impede the development of systems of care?
- Are there system implementation factors not identified in the Center's model that communities use to develop their systems of care?
Implementation Issue Briefs
A series of issues briefs, based on findings from completed SOC Case Studies of System Implementation, will provide readers with a summary of lessons learned from established system of care communities. The briefs offer concrete examples of how these communities have successfully developed their systems of care. The series begins with lessons learned during Phases I and II of the study and includes a description of methods of data collection and analysis. These issue briefs are intended to not only provide information for the reader but also to create dialogue around the topics discussed and the system of care concept as a whole.
System of Care Definition: System Implementation Issue Brief #1: This issue brief offers the expanded definition of system of care (SOC) and is intended to raise awareness regarding the need for a shared understanding of the system of care concept. [174kb pdf]
Critical Factors in System of Care Implementation: System Implementation Issue Brief #2: Based on lessons learned from data collected in Phases I and II of Case Studies of System Implementation, this issue brief offers a suggested model in which established SOC communities leverage change. [187kb pdf]
Strategies for System of Care Development: Locally Identified Factors for System Implementation: Supplement to Issue Brief #2: This document is intended to provide additional information on locally identified and defined system implementation factors from data collected in Phases I and II of Case Studies of System Implementation. [300kb pdf]
Leadership Qualities in Successful Systems of Care: System Implementation Issue Brief #3: This issue brief describes the challenge of leadership within a complex system, lessons learned from established systems of care, and strategies for successful leadership within system of care communities based on research findings to date. [185kb pdf]
Evidence-based Practices and Systems of Care: Implementation Matters: System Implementation Issue Brief #4: This issue brief provides key findings on the relationship between evidence-based practices (EBPs) and systems of care. A description of the integration of EBPs into established system of care communities, lessons learned, and strategies for successful integration are offered. [167kb pdf]
Technical Reports
Strategies for System of Care Development: Making Change in Complex Systems This paper introduces a framework for analysis of system implementation, which has been utilized to examine points of leverage in established systems of care in which stakeholders took strategic action to move their systems forward. These concepts related to leveraging system change were informed by (Meadows 1999). [300kb pdf]
Leveraging Change: Site Reports for Case Studies of System Implementation
These reports describe system specific efforts to leverage change in Systems of Care and how factors affecting system implementation contributed to the development of a system of care. Insight into particular successes as well as areas for further development is included.
Hawaii System of Care: Site Report for Case Studies of System Implementation [792kb pdf]
Placer County California Children's System of Care: Site Report for Case Studies of System Implementation [1000kb pdf]