Lessons Learned and Conclusions about Kids Oneida

From Mt. Sinai's Report:

1. In its first 3 years, Kids Oneida has fulfilled its original vision of creating and effectively implementing a value-based integrated community-based system of care for children and families in Oneida County.
2. The primary goal of Kids Oneida was to delay, shorten or avoid out-of- home placements. A majority of children served by Kids Oneida are able to remain in the community.
3. The trend of decreasing numbers of out-of-home placements for children in the custody of Oneida County DSS has been continuing since Kids Oneida began operation.
4. Kids Oneida has succeeded in developing a network of contract providers who offer a wide range of both traditional and new non-traditional or alternative services. This has resulted in an innovative system of community-based services in Oneida County.
5. Overall, children served by Kids Oneida have shown improvement in functioning over time.
6. Families have expressed high levels of satisfaction with Kids Oneida services and all shareholders are positive about the program.
7. Conclusions and findings about Kids Oneida do not include comparison data (either within Oneida County or with other counties).
8. Non-traditional services (i.e. mentoring and community supervision) were the most frequently used and accounted for most costs in Kids Oneida.
9. Younger children (under 14 years) and children with disruptive behavior disorders were the most expensive enrollees for Kids Oneida.
10. Kids Oneida appears to be successful at "purchasing outcomes' rather than services, but in the process may have de-emphasized some traditional medical services which are still important to consider for the population being served.
11. There are numerous opportunities for improvement and refinement within Kids Oneida: a) Improve service coordinators ability to develop individualized plans of care which target specific needs and build on the strengths of the child and family; b) Service coordinators would benefit from enhanced clinical supervision; c) Explore increased collaboration with local schools and substance abuse programs.

From Northwestern University/Buddin Praed Foundation's Report:

1. Kids Oneida appears to be an effective intensive community-based program.
2. The average child and family served by Kids Oneida gets better over time. Children and adolescents have reduced symptoms, less frequent and less severe risk behaviors and improved functioning. Families have increased caregiver capacities.
3. Approximately 33% of Kids Oneida enrollees are eventually placed in RTC, RTF or juvenile justice facilities. However, Kids Oneida appears to be successful at delaying placement for these individuals (average length of stay in Kids Oneida is 7 months for kids who are ultimately placed).
4. Poorest outcomes (including out-of-home placement) are associated with children who have the highest levels of violence, fewest strengths and who live with caregivers who have the greatest needs themselves.
5. There are numerous opportunities for improvement and refinement within Kids Oneida: a) Improve individualized service planning (more attention to identifying and building on strengths); b) Improve ability to match specific needs of children to services (particularly substance use/abuse services).