“The Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program, according to its legislative history, was intended as a system reform initiative. Grants were to promote more effective ways to provide mental health services and supports to children, adolescents, and their families. Congress made clear that the intention of this program was to turn a fragmented service delivery approach, where families received support from multiple case managers and uncoordinated care, into a single, comprehensive community-oriented delivery system for children with serious mental health challenges and their families. The program was also, quite deliberately, built upon the prior Child and Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) of the Center for Mental Health Services, which articulated a set of principles for interagency, comprehensive integrated systems of care for children and their families emphasizing strengths-based approaches, cultural competence, youth engagement, family-driven care and other key principles.”
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