Mercer County Family & Children First Council
"A way for families and their children to get services with service coordination".
Phone: 419-586-5663 Ext: 1004
What is the county Family and Children First Council (FCFC)?
The county FCFC includes families and people from local agencies and community organizations in that county. This group of people works together as partners to improve the well-being of children and families. There is an FCFC in every county in Ohio.
What does the county FCFC do?
The purpose of the county FCFC is to coordinate services in the county in a way that is simple and organized for families. The FCFC does this with service coordination.
How does service coordination work?
You and your child meet with the family service coordination team to share information and ideas, and decide what services your child should get. Together, you and your child and the team make an individual plan for how your child will get services and who will pay. The team must write the plan by following the county's service coordination "mechanism". Your family is a very important part of making the decisions.
What must the individual family service coordination plan say?
The individual family service plan must include:
- which agencies are responsible for giving your child and family the services you need. The agencies can be state, county and local, public and private agencies and informal supports.
- who will coordinate services. Your family approves the person who will coordinate services. This person makes sure that the individual service coordination plan gets started and the family continues to get the planned services.
- assurance that your child gets the services that she or he needs. The individual family service coordination plan must also make sure that your family gets services that support your family's strengths.
- opportunities for your child and family to give your opinions, ideas and suggestions about how to make services respect your family's culture, race and ethnic group.
- services in the least restrictive environment. A least restrictive environment is when a child receives services in the most helpful setting while being with other children.
- when the individual plan starts and finishes.
- what the county will do if there is an emergency situation or a "short-term crisis situation" for your child or your family.
- if your child is alleged to be an unruly child, a process to try to keep your child out of the juvenile justice system.
The Important Role of Families
The reason for service coordination is to bring children and families and the services they need together. Your family's thoughts and ideas can help your county make service coordination better for children and families.
How can I help my child and family?
Tell the FCFC about your child and family. Once the FCFC knows about your child, the FCFC might make it easier for your child and family to get services you need. When you tell the FCFC about your child, you are doing something called "self-referral."
Go to meetings about your individual family service coordination plan. You can tell the team your ideas about what should be part of your plan.
Tell the FCFC if you approve of the person they choose to coordinate the services in your individual family service coordination plan.
Ask for meetings to talk about your individual family service coordination plan. You can ask for a meeting to talk about how the plan is working, and if it needs to be changed.
Bring an advocate to your individual family service coordination plan meeting if you need someone to help you or give you support. Sometimes it is easier to say what you think if another person who is on your side is helping you, or is just there to support you.
For more information contact: Leslie Karner, Family & Children First Council Coordinator
(419) 586-4663 Ext: 1004
