Welcome | Networking
| Long Range Plan | Links
| Membership
Application
Mission,
Goals, and Assumptions
|
Alaska's Young
Family Network &emdash; Long Range Plan
|
Our Mission:
- To help families and professionals work
together as full partners, so that they can improve the systems of
care &emdash; at both the local and state levels &emdash; for
children who have a mental disorder.
Goals
To provide tools to advocates so that they can:
- help children lead fuller lives and become more productive
members of society by reducing the incidence and severity of
mental illness, the amount of disability among children and youth,
and to improve services to those who are already seriously
impaired,
- help families find up-to-date information, support, and
effective affordable services for their children, and
- reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with these
complex brain disorders.
Assumptions about the
future:
Planners document the assumptions that they
use in making decisions. If the assumptions are realistic, the plan
can be realistic. If an assumption proves wrong, then the plan needs
to be reviewed and revised where necessary. Here's the assumptions we
are using. If you disagree with any of them let us know, and tell us
why.
- Assertive prevention and risk reduction programs will reduce
the incidence and severity of mental disorders.
- Assertive early identification and treatment programs will
prevent or reduce disabilities.
- Improved medications and psychosocial treatments will better
manage mental disorders and improve the lives of those who already
have disabilities, but intensive treatment and rehabilitation
programs will continue to be needed.
- Because of the expense of research, the National Institutes of
Health, the Center for Mental Health Services, the National
Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, and the major
university research centers will continue to be the best source of
science-based information.
- The trend of shifting federal funds and responsibilities to
the states will continue, and the state will continue to shift
decision making to the local communities. Hence, more
knowledgeable and assertive families will be needed in the
communities to work as partners with professionals.
- Cost-containment measures will drive the health-care system,
and service delivery systems will need proof of the need for and
the effectiveness of services.
- State oil revenues will at best stabalize for the next five
years. The state will offset the need for more services for a
gradually growing population by decreasing state-funded services
and increasing taxes.
Next Page
Email us webmaster
Date Last Modified: 5/7/01