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 FOCUS 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 22/23, A BETTER WAY PROVIDED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO 646 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.

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 UPON REQUEST. 2022/23 DATA (TITLE IV-E ALAMEDA, TITLE IV-E SOLANO, ACBH TRAINING): HOURS DELIVERED: 3,050.5; NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAINED: 4,130; NUMBER OF COURSES PROVIDED: 544; NUMBER OF AGENCIES SERVED: 308

SOCIAL SERVICES - DURING 2022-2023 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), AND SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PARENT PARTNER PROGRAM (SCPPP). THE PEP, PPFN, AND SCPPP 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 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT SAFETY CONCERNS. 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 2022-23, THE PEP PROGRAM RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 137 FAMILIES REFERRED FOR SERVICES OF WHICH 104 CASES WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND WORKING TOWARDS REUNIFICATION. PEP SUPPORTED PARENTS IN 382 CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS, FACILITATED 48 SUPPORT GROUPS THAT INCLUDED 125 FATHERHOOD AND 522 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 247 FAMILIES REFERRED FOR SERVICES OF WHICH 144 CASES WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM. 124 OF THOSE ARS FAMILIES WERE CLOSED SUCCESSFULLY WITH GOALS MET. SOLANO PPFN HAD A TOTAL OF 42 FAMILIES REFERRED, OF WHICH 24 CASES WERE ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAM AND WORKING TOWARDS FAMILY REUNIFICATION. PPFN SUPPORTED 59 PARENTS DURING CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS. SCPPP RECEIVED 32 REFERRALS AND ENROLLED 19 PARENTS WORKING TOWARDS FAMILY REUNIFICATION. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTED PARENTS IN 12 CHILD FAMILY TEAM MEETINGS. THE PES PROGRAM SERVED 268 PARENTS AND SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED 104 PARENTS WHO COMPLETED THE CURRICULUM SERIES. 101 PARENTS REPORTED IMPROVEMENT OF THEIR PARENTING SKILLS AND OVERALL FAMILY FUNCTIONING. 100 PARENTS REPORTED THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE CLASS INSTRUCTION THEY RECEIVED.

PERMANENCY - WE PROVIDE TRADITIONAL FOSTER CARE, ADOPTIONS, INTENSIVE TREATMENT FOSTER CARE (ISFC), AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR TRANSITIONAL AGED FOSTER YOUTH (THP+FC). IN FISCAL YEAR 2022-23, WE HAD 40 APPROVED RESOURCE FAMILIES FOR OUR FOSTER CARE, FOSTER TO ADOPT, AND INTENSIVE SERVICES FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS AND 44 PLACED CHILDREN. IN THE THP+FC PROGRAM, WE HAD 4 YOUTH PLACED IN REMOTE HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS.