Welcome
Thank you for visiting our website. Here you will find educational and informative information about the changes happening within Erie County 's System of Care. Family Voices Network of Erie County represents the children's division within the Erie County Department of Mental Health and Department of Social Services.
We provide support and services for children ages 5-17 to include children involved with:
• Foster Care and Adoptive Services
• Juvenile Justice, Probation, and Detention
• Department of Social Services
• Homeless Children
• Children with Mental Health needs
• Children in Schools & Faith-based communities
We are empowering children, youth, and families who are experiencing mental health by encouraging families to understanding what they need to become independent in their communities. Several training classes and workshops are now available throughout the county to help families become educated and informed.
On this website you will find links to various pages that provide information to help families and service providers understand how we work and what we are doing. We will update the links to the left as changes occur within Erie County to keep you informed. We encourage you to read, research, and learn about our Referral Process and download a copy of "Our Voices Count Too Booklet."
You may be familiar with the term Single Point of Accountability (SPOA). What you should know is that now SPOA has been rolled-into the FVN Referral Process in Erie County to address the needs of all children and youth living in Erie County. To view this policy please read the booklet "Our Voices Count Too!"
We want our families and community to better understand how to move through the Erie County System of Care with guidance and support. Become Empowered! Learn how you can advocate for yourself and see what resources are available to help you achieve success in your everyday life.
Your Guide to Family Support Centers
This brochure identifies where families can go within their community to meet other families experiencing similar challenges in their daily lives. Family Voices Network created this brochure to help our families find resources and natural supports within their community. If you would like to add a location that supports this purpose, please send an email to: marketing@familyvoicesnetwork.org and let us know.
Link to: Your Guide to Family Support Centers -- Brochure: Download
Wraparound Process Brochure
This brochure highlights the basics of the wraparound process and shares information about our agencies that provide care coordination services for families enrolled in the wraparound process. This booklet represents the model that Erie County has adopted and our care coordination agencies are following. It is a great guide for parents because it highlights what they should expect if a family has been accepted into the Wraparound Process. Parents are actively involved in the plan of care for their children and they have voice and choice within Erie County's System of Care. This is also a great guide for service providers working with families. It will help educate providers on what works and what's expected when delivering services to families and this guide represents Family Voices Network philosophy on how services should be delivered to families.
Link to: Wraparound Process Booklet 2006: Download.
Live Presentation
To learn more or if you are interested in an in-person presentation on Family Voices Network of Erie County and the Wraparound Process, please call Deborah Ann Porter, Director of Social Marketing at (716) 898-6134 to schedule an appointment or send an email to: marketing@familyvoicesnetwork.org. We provide in-person presentation to small and large groups. Our objective is to education, inform and empower the communities within Erie County. (Knowledge is Power!)
Join our Mailing List
In March, July and October, we produce a newsletter called "The Wraparound Bulletin." Parents and youth have a voice within Erie County 's system of care. We listen to the ideas, suggestions, and recommendations of our parents and youth who are currently or have been enrolled in Care Coordination services through the Wraparound Process.
We have created a committee of parents and youth who actively participate and attend the Social Marketing & Evaluation Committee (S.O.M.E.). This committee attend various meetings and training classes throughout the Erie County 's system of care and tell us what they feel is important information that should be shared with other parents or the community. They are a valuable resource and they represent the parent and youth voice in our community.
Your time and voice is valuable to us. Here is what you can expect when you join.
- We meet once a quarter and stipends are offered to parents & youth who join.
- You will identify and gather information from meetings you attend within the Erie County system of care and your community and share that information with us.
- You will review data and recommend suggestions to Evaluation on how best to present this information to parents and youth.
- You will participate in planning activities for special events such as “Erie County Children's Mental Health Awareness Day” which we identify as "Celebrating the Success of our Families" a local theme adopted by our parents.
- You will exercise your creativity to help us improve written material sent to parents and youth.
- You will review information to make sure it is family & youth friendly.
- We will work around your schedule when possible to keep you involved and informed of activities on this committee.
The S.O.M.E. Committee of parents & youth participated in building this website and in the production of our quarterly newsletter. We continue to look for parents and youth who have a talent they would like to share to help us remain family & youth friendly. We are looking for volunteers. We want your help!
If you are interested, please contact:
Deborah Porter, Director of Social Marketing
Call: (716) 898-6134 or email: marketing@familyvoicesnetwork.org