Strengthening Systems of Care: Voices Inform the Next Tier of Technical Assistance

UC Davis Human Services extends sincere appreciation to all who participated in the recent Children and Youth System of Care Listening Sessions. Your insights and shared experiences are helping shape the next evolution of our support model: Tier 3 of the Tiered Technical Assistance (TA) Framework. This feedback is instrumental in identifying opportunities and challenges in county-level Systems of Care (SOC) and will inform more intensive, targeted support.

The Tiered Technical Assistance Framework

To address the diverse needs of county SOCs, the TA Framework is structured into three progressive tiers:

  • Tier 1: Universal Supports
    Public-facing, self-directed resources available to all system partners, such as webinars, toolkits, and FAQs.
  • Tier 2: Individualized Assistance
    Targeted technical assistance focused on policy implementation and practice improvement for specific counties. This tier addresses the unique needs of children, youth, and their systems.
  • Tier 3: Intensive Intervention
    Designed to provide concentrated support to Interagency Leadership Teams (ILTs), Tier 3 identifies gaps and systemic barriers, builds team capacity, and encourages resolution at the local level. It also introduces a process for SOC partners to request direct intervention from the State Joint Resolution Team.

What We Heard: Opportunities and What’s Working

During the listening sessions, stakeholders shared key successes and opportunities for growth across five core areas:

1. Structure & Focus

  • Establish dedicated, child/youth-specific ILTs with subgroups for individual cases.
  • Transition from ad-hoc meetings to formalized, recurring ILT sessions.
  • Leverage external consultants to support strategic planning and system improvements.

2. Inclusion & Representation

  • Actively include foster youth ambassadors and parents with lived experience in decision-making processes.
  • Invite initiative leaders to present to SOC partners to enhance system-wide awareness and coordination.

3. Training & Shared Understanding

  • Provide joint Integrated Core Practice Model (ICPM) training, shared onboarding, and education on Regional Centers.
  • Ensure both internal and external agency staff receive training.
  • Develop and promote common language around programs and services.

4. Assessment & Tools

  • Create a universal assessment framework.
  • Develop a countywide services crosswalk to improve transparency and navigation.
  • Use collaborative technology to update and manage Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

5. Operational Efficiency

  • Conduct a meeting inventory to streamline collaboration and eliminate duplication.
  • Establish feedback loops for continuous improvement in ILT recommendations.
  • Support a dedicated SOC coordinator role to ensure coordination and continuity.

Obstacles and Barriers to Progress

While many strengths were highlighted, several obstacles were also identified that continue to impede progress:

1. Participation & Engagement

  • ILTs face challenges with consistent scheduling and member attendance.
  • Leadership often lacks insight into on-the-ground realities.
  • Tribal partners and certain Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) collaborators are underrepresented.
  • High turnover and minimal onboarding disrupt consistency.

2. Structure & Coordination

  • Ambiguity around roles, responsibilities, and reporting channels.
  • Siloed decision-making—especially around placements—limits collaborative solutions.
  • Persistent barriers in completing MOUs and consent processes.
  • Limited clarity around managed care plan (MCP) services and agency roles.

3. Process Inefficiencies

  • Facilitators are overburdened.
  • Inconsistent placement options for complex cases.
  • Meetings often lack actionable outcomes or follow-through.

4. Communication & Data Flow

  • No standardized method for cross-agency data sharing or reporting.
  • Behavioral health teams may decline clients with developmental disabilities.
  • Judges and attorneys are not consistently aligned with SOC goals or ILT roles.
  • Systemic "finger-pointing" continues to hinder collaborative progress.

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, UC Davis Human Services is committed to advancing this work. Upcoming developments include:

  • Launch of new and refreshed Tier 1 resources, such as an SOC toolkit, frequently asked questions, and a support series.
  • Finalization of the Tiered TA Framework, which will be disseminated via a joint letter to county partners.

Your input continues to drive the evolution of our support model, ensuring that all children, youth, and families receive effective, coordinated services across California.

Stay connected for more updates, and thank you again for your partnership in transforming Systems of Care.