Module 4: Coordinating and Integrating Systems

Introduction

Collaborating with other systems can pay off in ways that benefit systems and individual agencies, as well as the youth with co-occurring disorders. These benefits include:

• Less employee turnover
• Fewer employee complaints
• Fewer youth/family complaints
• Expanded ability to meet youth’s needs
• Joint lobbying of ideas for improving services
• Joint legislative initiatives to address funding issues

This module addresses how these benefits may be achieved by ensuring continuity of care, sharing confidential treatment information in an appropriate and legal manner, sharing criminal records and information with mental health and substance abuse treatment professionals, and developing written interagency agreements. Interagency communication and strategic planning are also discussed. The module concludes with suggestions for developing action plans.