A Better Way Inc

A BETTER WAY EMPOWERS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO DEVELOP THE INSIGHTS, LIFE SKILLS, AND PERMANENT RELATIONSHIPS THAT PROMOTE THEIR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - WE PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE STRENGTH-BASED, FAMILY-DRIVEN, COLLABORATIVE, COMPREHENSIVE, AND EVIDENCE BASED/EVIDENCE INFORMED. OUR TREATMENT FOCUSES ON BEHAVIORAL & EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND PLACEMENT STABILIZATION. OUR TREATMENT TEAMS INCLUDE DOCTORAL AND MASTERS LEVEL CLINICIANS, AS WELL AS FAMILY PARTNERS AND REHABILITATION SPECIALISTS. WE PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE AREAS OF THERAPEUTIC VISITATION, REUNIFICATION, PRE- AND POST-ADOPTION, AND GENERAL PSYCHOTHERAPY IN THE CONTEXT OF INDIVIDUAL, AND FAMILY THERAPY. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE SPECIALTY PROGRAMS THAT FOCUS ON CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 5 YEARS OLD. FOR FY 20/21, A BETTER WAY PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO 913 CHILDREN IN OR AT RISK OF ENTERING FOSTER CARE, AND TO CHILDREN AT SCHOOLS IN ALAMEDA, CONTRA COSTA, SAN FRANCISCO, AND SOLANO COUNTIES. ALL OF THEM ARE EITHER SELF-REFERRED BY CAREGIVERS, REFERRED BY THEIR SCHOOLS, OR REFERRED TO US BY THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENTS.

SOCIAL SERVICES - DURING 2020-2021 OUR SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS CONSISTED OF 4 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, THE LARGEST OF WHICH WERE THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PARENT ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM (PEP) AND THE ALAMEDA COUNTY ANOTHER ROAD TO SAFETY (ARS) PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS INCLUDE, ALAMEDA COUNTY PARENT EDUCATION SERVICES (PES), THE SOLANO COUNTY PARENT PARTNER & FAMILY NAVIGATION PROGRAMS (PPFN). THE PEP AND PPFN ARE DEDICATED TO IMPROVING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES NAVIGATING THE CHILD WELFARE AND JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS. ARS IS AN EARLY INTERVENTION / DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE SERVICE FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THEIR CARE DUE TO SAFETY AND SECURITY RISKS. THE PES PROGRAM IS A PARENTING EDUCATION SERVICE DESIGNED TO EQUIP PARENTS INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WITH A VARIETY OF PARENTING SKILLS TO INCREASE THE PARENT'S CAPACITY TO BETTER MANAGE FAMILY ISSUES. FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020-21, THE PEP PROGRAM HANDLED 143 CASES, THEY PARTICIPATED IN 564 CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS, 61 SUPPORT GROUPS THAT INCLUDED 388 FATHERHOOD AND 344 PARENT LEADERSHIP PARTICIPANTS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO ATTENDED NUMEROUS OTHER COUNTY TEAM MEETINGS, PANELS, COMMITTEES, AND WORKGROUPS AND PROVIDED TRAININGS TO THE COMMUNITY. ARS HAD A TOTAL OF 244 FAMILIES REFERRED FOR SERVICES OF WHICH 166 CASES WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. 134 ARS FAMILIES WERE CLOSED SUCCESSFULLY WITH GOALS MET. SOLANO PPFN SERVED A TOTAL OF 55 PARENTS INVOLVED WITH THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. THE PROGRAM ATTENDED 06 CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS. THE PES PROGRAM SERVED 248 PARENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED 90 PARENTS WHO COMPLETED THE CURRICULUM SERIES. 84 PARENTS REPORTED IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR PARENTING SKILLS AND OVERALL FAMILY FUNCTIONING.

THE TRAINING PROGRAM AT A BETTER WAY PROVIDES HUNDREDS OF COURSES EACH YEAR FOCUSING ON IMPROVING SERVICES TO CHILDREN INVOLVED IN CHILD WELFARE SYSTEMS. WE SPECIALIZE IN INCORPORATING A LENS OF CULTURAL HUMILITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WITHIN ALL OF OUR EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. TRAINING AUDIENCES INCLUDE: COURT DEPENDENT FAMILIES; SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS; MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS; RESOURCE FAMILIES/FOSTER FAMILIES; PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS; & SYSTEM-INVOLVED YOUTH. COURSES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY, AND PRIORITY REGISTRATION IS GIVEN TO OUR PRIMARY INTENDED AUDIENCE; CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE OR PLAN TO BE INVOLVED IN LIVES OF FOSTER CHILDREN AND YOUTH. WE ALSO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID CERTIFICATION COURSES IN SOLANO COUNTY. 2020/21 DATA (TITLE IV-E ALAMEDA, TITLE IV-E SOLANO, ACBH TRAINING, SOLANO MHFA TRAINING): HOURS DELIVERED: 3,784; NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAINED: 13485; NUMBER OF COURSES PROVIDED: 704; NUMBER OF AGENCIES SERVED:330

PERMANENCY - WE PROVIDE TRADITIONAL FOSTER CARE, ADOPTIONS, INTENSIVE TREATMENT FOSTER CARE (ISFC), AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR TRANSIITIONAL AGED FOSTER YOUTH (THP+FC). IN FISCAL YEAR 2020-21, WE HAD 44 APPROVED RESOURCE FAMILIES FOR OUR FOSTER CARE, FOSTER TO ADOPT, AND INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS AND 39 PLACED CHILDREN. IN THE THP+FC PROGRAM, WE HAD 1 APPROVED HOUSING LOCATIONS AND PLACED 2 YOUNG ADULT.