Crawford County Family Navigators (CHAPS & FCCA)

Early Access, Lasting Impact: Navigating Mental Health Together

Crawford County Family Navigator

The Crawford County Family Navigators is a short-term program provides families with advocacy and connectionto the comprehensive coordinated network of community-based services in Crawford County and supportsdesigned to meet their needs. Assists families with caregivers raising children, youth, and young adults ages 5 to21 with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) or mental health concerns.

Step 1: Getting Started

We take time to hear your story and get to know your family's strengths and needs to help you build a plan while connecting you with local resources to support your goals.

Step 2: Making a Plan

Together, we create a Family Action Plan that fits your needs, helps you understand local services, and shows you how to find and use resources on your own in the future.

Step 3: Moving Forward

We help you put together a Transition Plan so you're ready to move forward, and we make sure you've got the support and next steps you need to keep going strong.

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The Role of the Family Navigator

Providing Information and Education: Family Navigators inform CYYA and family caregivers about mental health, treatment options, and services. They provide education on rights, empower voice and choice, and share lived experiences for support and guidance.
Assisting with System Navigation: Family Navigators assist CYYA and family caregivers in accessing services, understanding provider roles, and connecting to resources like therapy and crisis intervention.
Supporting Emotional and Practical Needs: Family Navigators provide emotional support and practical help to CYYA and family caregivers, assist with stress management, daily challenges, understanding care plans, and accessing community resources.
Supporting Family Empowerment: Family Navigators give CYYA and family caregivers tools, knowledge, and the confidence to manage care coordination.
Facilitating Access to Resources: Family Navigators link CYYA and family caregivers to local resources and services with a warm handoff, provide follow-up support, and help create Family Driven Action Plans to meet their CYYA’s needs.
Promoting Collaboration: Family Navigators work with teams to facilitate effective communication, promoting coordinated care.
Crisis Support: Family Navigators help CYYA and family caregivers identify immediate needs and access crisis services during emergencies; however, they are not on call 24/7.
Culturally Competent Care: Action plans align with the cultural values, beliefs, and practices of the individual and family, enhancing engagement and buy-in.

Overview

The primary aim of the Crawford County Family Navigators program is to provide short term, individualized support to children, youth, and young adults (CYYA) ages 5-21 and family caregivers seeking mental health services and resources to meet the needs of their CYYA. This support could be given in a single phone call or could be offered up to six months, helping navigate the complex systems that serve CYYA with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) or Serious Mental Illness (SMI).

The Family Navigator program seeks to:

Promote Early Access: Supporting CYYA and family caregivers in reducing barriers to access with mental health services and resources.
Enhance Engagement: Encouraging active participation from both the CYYA and family caregivers in developing Family Driven Action Plans.
Improve Coordination: Streamlining communication and collaboration between service providers and systems through integrated planning.
Optimize Treatment: Tailoring connections to mental health interventions to meet the unique needs of each CYYA and family.

Impact

Improved Mental Health Outcomes and Satisfaction with Care
Reduced Family Caregiver Stress
Increased Engagement in the Care Process
Improved System Navigation and Integrated Planning
Increased Access to Insurance

The Process

The Family Navigator model guides collaboration between CYYA, family caregivers, and support teams. The goal is to prioritize needs, integrate planning, and connect families to resources to build self-efficacy through three key phases:

During the Engagement phase, Family Navigators:

Collaborate with the CYYA and family caregivers to develop a deeper understanding of crisis needs, developing an individualized Family Driven Crisis Plan to stabilize safety concerns.
Develop strong engagement by learning about the family’s needs, strengths and culture that guide the Family Driven Action Plan.
Explore community resources that will help the family move towards their vision.

During the Planning and Implementation phases, Family Navigators:

Facilitate monthly Family Driven Action Plans that provide clear direction to the family accessing the services and resources that fit their needs.
Orient, educate, and support CYYA and family caregivers in accessing services they are seeking in their communities.
Empowering CYYA and their family caregivers to learn the skills needed to access services and resources in the future.

During the Transition Phase, Family Navigators:

Develop a Transition Plan with the CYYA and family caregivers that will solidify skills developed and finalize next steps needed to navigate the child-serving system more independently.
Partner with the service or resources that the CYYA enrolls in, providing a “warm handoff” to assist in a successful transition out of the Family Navigator program.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is it?

The Crawford County Family Navigators program is here to support children, youth, young adults (CYYA)ages 5-21, and their families who are looking for help with accessing support for mental health or even resources that can help with education, housing, removing barriers to care, or other needs your family might have. Whether you need help just once or over several months, a Family Navigator can guide you through the often-confusing systems of care.
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We’re here to:
Make it easier to get help early
Support your family in making decisions together
Connect you with the right services
Help you feel more confident and less stressed
Improve your experience with mental health care

How does it work?

The Family Navigator journey has three main steps:

Getting Started
We take time to hear your story and get to know your family’s strengths and needs to help you build a plan while connecting you with local resources to support your goals.

Making a Plan
Together, we create a Family Action Plan that fits your needs, help you understand local services, and show you how to find and use resources on your own in the future.

Moving Forward
We help you put together a Transition Plan so you’re ready to move forward, and we make sure you’ve got the support and next steps you need to keep going strong.

How does it help?

Better Mental Health Support: CYYA and families feel more satisfied with the care they receive and the resources they can access.

Less Stress for Caregivers: Family caregivers feel more supported and less overwhelmed.

More Involvement in Care: CYYA and families feel more included and confident in making decisions about how to meet their needs.

Easier to Find Help: Navigating the mental health system becomes less confusing, with better coordination between services.

Improved Access to Insurance and Services: CYYA and family caregivers get help understanding and using insurance to access the care they need.

What do Family Navigators do?

Share Information
Guide You Through the System
Offer Emotional Support
Empower Your Family
Connect You to Resources
Promote Teamwork
Support During Crisis
Respect Your Culture