The Family Cafe SFN for Children's Mental Health - The Family Cafe Statewide Family Network program will develop and enhance the capacity of families, organizations and other stakeholders to transform the system of care for children and youth with severe emotional disturbance and their families in Florida, ultimately resulting in mental health services that are not only effective, but also family-driven and youth-guided. It will serve children and youth with mental health needs in Florida, as well as their families and caregivers. The goals of the program are: 1) Organizations that serve children and youth with mental health needs will have the organizational capacity necessary to form effective partnerships, advocate for the families, youth and children they serve, and participate in shaping the mental health system of care to respond to the needs of their constituents; 2) families of children and youth with mental health needs will have the resources they require to navigate the existing system of care, and participate as co-equal partners in creating a family-centered, youth-guided, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed mental health system of care; 3) Families of children and youth with mental health needs will work with policy-makers and stakeholders to create a culture that rejects stigma and embraces inclusion and recovery; and 4) Florida youth with mental health needs will develop leadership skills and the capacity to participate in creating a responsive, youth-centered system of care.
