January 2015
For close to a quarter century, efforts to create more effective child-serving systems have focused on a concept known as system of care. System of Care is an “approach to the organization and financing of services for children with behavioral health challenges that is informed by well-tested values and principles.” These values and principles include a broad array of services and supports available within the home and community, family and youth involvement in decision-making at all levels of the system, cultural and linguistic competence, cross-system collaboration, and data-driven accountability. This report offers a snapshot of the return on investment for systems of care.