San Luis Obispo County Children's Services Network

Background

The Children's Services Network grew out of many citizens' efforts to create
an inter-agency group to study and better coordinate children's services in
the County.

In February 1991, through a charge from the Juvenile Justice Commission, an
ad hoc committee of public agency, private sector, school district and
community representatives met to develop a plan for the County to improve
the lives of children and youth.

The efforts were culminated in August 1992, when the San Luis Obispo County
Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the Children's Services
Network Plan. Its mission is to facilitate the provision of comprehensive,
culturally sensitive services for the children, youth and families of San
Luis Obispo County.

Goals

The goals of San Luis Obispo County Children's Services Network are to:
Improve communication, planning, coordination and cooperation among the
children and youth-serving agencies. Identify gaps and overlaps in services.
Provide a forum for clarifying perceptions and expectations among agencies
and between agencies and the community. Set priorities for interagency
projects. Implement collaborative programs, both public and private.

Components

Children's Policy Council

The Policy Council meets monthly to provide leadership, and to identify and
prioritize critical children's issues. It communicates information between
publicand private agencies, and establishes policy as it relates the
development of comprehensive community services for children and youth.

Its members include the Advisory Council Chairperson, Board of Supervisors,
Chief of Police representative, County Administrative Officer, County
Counsel, District Attorney, Drug and Alcohol Services Director, General
Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Health Agency Director, Mental Health
Department Director, Private Sector Representatives, Probation Department
Chief, School District Superintendents' representative, Social Services
Department Director, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff, Superintendent of San
Luis Obispo County Schools and the Superior Court Judge.

Children's Advisory Council

Through the quarterly Advisory Council meetings and monthly committee and
board meetings, the Advisory Council serves as the information link for all
child- serving organizations and the Policy Council. Its role is to improve
cooperation, coordination and collaboration among its members, and to
provide input, feedback and recommendations to the Policy Council.

The Advisory Council's members include over one hundred representatives from
school districts, public and private agencies, advisory boards, councils,
task forces, multidisciplinary teams and members of the community who
provide services to, or who are concerned about children and youth in San
Luis Obispo County.

Partnership for the Children

The Partnership is the not-for-profit component to the Children's Services
Network. Its goal is to facilitate ways the concerned adults of the County
can meet the needs of children in ways that have not previously been
available through direct services. Screened applicants needing assistance
and goods will be referred to identified child-centered organizations or
professionals. The Partnership can direct funds, services or mobilize
volunteers where they are needed most.

The Partnership can also provide contribution credit, for individuals with
monetary and in-kind donations as allowed by the IRS.

The activities of the Partnership are guided at a monthly meeting by its
Board of Directors who represent a broad spectrum of business and community
interests in San Luis Obispo County.

Children's Resource Teams

The Resource Teams are linked through the Advisory Council with the aim to
improve cooperation and coordination among youth-serving agencies and
groups. The Teams can assist in solving identified problems, provide case
management services or act as needed community resources. Members may
include pilot programs, grant funded teams, planning groups and case
management teams.

Information

For more information about the Children's Services Network, please contact:

     Barbara Ellerbroek, Coordinator

     Telephone: 805/781-1845
     FAX: 805/781-1846

     c/o Department of Social Services
     3433 South Higuera
     P. O. Box 8119
     San Luis Obispo, CA 93401