Community collaboration is a fundamental part of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) mission and vision. A cooperative relationship between family, youth, community- and residentially-based treatment service providers contributes to the potential for ongoing, transformative dialogue among all constituent groups, resulting in a more efficient service delivery system — better integrating and linking residential (out-of-home) and community-based services and supports.
Collaboration is key to ensuring sustained positive outcomes through the most evidence and practice-informed approaches in holistic, comprehensive service provision, and further supports family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally and linguistically competent practice.
Key Resources
Redefining the Role of Residential Treatment
This paper reflects the viewpoint of the Association of Children’s Residential Centers (ACRC) regarding efforts underway around the nation to redesign the role of residential treatment in local communities.
Building Bridges between Community and Residential Treatment Providers, Families and Youth to Transform Children’s Mental Health
A call for restructuring the relationship between residential treatment and community-based providers, families and youth.
The Building Bridges Initiative: Collaboration Towards Transforming Children’s Mental Health Health
This piece describes the purpose of the BBI and why it is an appropriate and much needed approach to meet the needs of children, youth, and their family members in community and residential settings.
The Building Bridges Initiative: Residential and Community-Based Providers, Families and Youth Coming Together to Improve Outcomes
BBI provides a framework for achieving positive outcomes for youth and families served in residential and community programs. Examples are presented of successful state, community, and provider practice changes and available tools and resources to support all constituencies in achieving positive outcomes.
A Building Bridges Initiative Informational Document: Using Wraparound Practice to Integrate Residential and Community-Based Systems of Care
This document offers a pragmatic translation and “deconstruction” of the wraparound approach and applies the principles and process into residential best practices well-identified by BBI.