Historical Overview

In January 1996, New York's Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene (RFMH) was awarded one of 12 grants ($75,000) awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) as part of their Mental Health Service Program for Youth (MHSPY) initiative. The replication grants were intended to assist states and localities in developing new systems of care for seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) children and adolescents.

The goal of the RWJ/MHSPHY programs was to both reduce the use of out-of-home services (e.g. hospitalization and residential) which are the most restrictive and expensive levels of care and also to help divert some children from unnecessary hospitalizations and placements in the mental health, social services, juvenile justice or educational systems.

NY/RFMH selected Oneida County as the first site for the project because of the demonstrated commitment to coordinate planning and care and the readiness to proceed with the MHSPY model.

Several workgroups were established on both the state and local levels to assist in the planning and implementation of the project. This collaborative effort promoted a system of care as part of a community partnership that strives to respond to the needs of children and families.

In November 1997, Integrated Community Alternatives Network, Inc. (1CAN) was established as a 501 © (3) not-for-profit care management entity in Oneida County to operate the Kids Oneida program.

Kids Oneida began serving children and families in January 1998.

In August 1998, Kids Oneida was licensed as an OMH Out-patient Clinic with the capacity of serving 120 children and adolescents with serious problems and who are deemed at risk of out-of-home placement. Through waiver provisions contained in the OMH clinic regulations (Parts 587/588) KO has an expanded outpatient clinic license.

ICAN/KO is being funded through a blend of Medicaid, Mental Health and Social Services monies. KO receives a bundled case payment fee from Medicaid and a case payment from Oneida County Department of Social Services local block grant. When a child receives out-of-home services (e.g. RTC, Foster Care), Federal Title IV-A/E funds will be drawn down and less OCDSS block grant funds are expended.

Kids Oneida is responsible for providing all necessary services for children enrolled using this money rate except for psychiatric hospitalization and RTF care. KO also does not cover physical health care services. The program will service both Medicaid and non-Medicaid recipients (90/10).