PACT 4 Families Collaborative
PACT 4 Families Collaborative is a combined Children’s Mental Health and a Family Services Collaborative within the counties of Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, and Yellow Medicine. The mission of PACT 4 is “as a collaborative we will work together to reduce duplication and provide a family-driven continuum of quality, innovative, and cost-effective services for children and their families. These services will be culturally sensitive and strength-based.”
Description:
PACT 4 Families Collaborative is a combined Children’s Mental Health and a Family Services Collaborative with a long tradition of partnering with 13 public schools, one charter school, two private schools, and 80 other agencies within the counties of Kandiyohi, Meeker, Renville, and Yellow Medicine. The mission of PACT 4 is “as a collaborative we will work together to reduce duplication and provide a family-driven continuum of quality, innovative, and cost-effective services for children and their families. These services will be culturally sensitive and strength-based.”
PACT 4 Families serves children pre-birth through 21and is organized through a joint powers agreement between the four counties. An Executive Board of nine elected members (including two parents) and a Chief Elected Officials Board provide administrative oversight. These partners have a thirteen-year history of working together to serve children and their families in a number of unique and creative ways.
History:
In 1992, the Minnesota Legislature implemented funding for children’s mental health collaboratives and family service collaboratives. In our area counties, school districts and others partnered to apply for a combination of the two collaborative models. PACT (Putting All Communities Together) 4 Families Collaborative started through this Minnesota state funding opportunity, and became an official interagency entity in 1994. In 1995, the Collaborative office moved to the Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, where it has since remained. The mission of PACT 4 is “as a collaborative we will work together to reduce duplication and provide a family-driven continuum of quality, innovative, and cost-effective services for children and their families. These services will be culturally sensitive and strength-based.”
PACT 4 was established to transform child-serving and government agencies from solo entities into a seamless, flexible, and coordinated system of care. From a small group of founders in 1993, it has grown to a Collaborative of over 100 partners. These partners include 13 public schools, one charter school, two private schools, county public health, family services, juvenile justice, parents, businesses and others. Every month, partners meet to network, build relationships, learn from each other, and increase collaboration, resulting in greater resources to support the development of healthy families. Partners support PACT 4 by committing to the decision-making process, financial contributions, involvement on committees, and policymaking. Partners also participate in applying for new grants. They can receive grants from the Collaborative through Local Collaborative Time Study (LCTS) dollars, discretionary funding and other financial avenues.
Through the diversity of partnerships, thoughtful planning and a common clear vision, PACT 4 has been successful in applying for and receiving three long-term Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) system of care grants. PACT 4 is the only site in the nation to have received all three grants. Included in these grants is a stronger effort to change the system of care to be directed by youth and family needs. These grants have encouraged families and professionals to partner together for the care that children receive. These grants allow for the system of services and supports to be enhanced and the areas of success and improvement to be evaluated. PACT 4 has been recognized as a model of collaboration at every level of government. In 1997 PACT 4 received the Collaborative of the Year award from the Minnesota Social Services Association and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
PACT 4 has continued to grow each year through integrated local funding, foundation grants, state grants and federal grants to:
- improve the system of care
- provide a full continuum of care for children
- reduce risk factors for children
- help Collaborative partners work together more closely
PACT 4’s partners work creatively to provide services and opportunities to youth who are struggling at home, school, or in the community to find resources and outlets to help meet their needs. We know that youth do much better when they receive local support from their communities.
PACT 4 integrated funding has enhanced opportunities for youth ages birth to 21 by providing school-based workers, mentor programs, child guides, school-based probation, after-school programs, summer camps and other supports for students and youth. These opportunities for youth have demonstrated success through a decrease in out-of-home placements, an increase in children’s mental health case management services, and more than 165 youth being connected with mentors in our four-county area.
Since our beginning, grants to serve youth ages birth to 24 have funded the Wraparound Initiative (SAMHSA grant), Restorative Justice, Family Group Decision Making, Early Risers, summer camps, Project SUCCEED (SAMHSA grant), the PRIDE-4 transition grant (SAMHSA grant), the Safe Schools/Health Students Initiative, Chemical Health Coalitions in Renville and Yellow Medicine Counties, and 21st Century Learning Centers grants.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (320) 231-7033
Address:
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2200 23rd Stree NE, Suite 2030Willmar, MN 56201(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.pact4.org
Directions:
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In Willmar, from Highway 12, follow signs to Highway 71 North. Follow Highway 71 North approximately 2.5 miles to the Health and Human Services Building. PACT 4 Families is on the second floor, suite 2030.
Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: N/A
Nearest Bus Stop: Kandiyohi County Health and Human Services Building, 0 minute walk |
| Last updated on April 30, 2009 |
