Simplifying access to behavioral health services and facilitating collaboration among families, providers, and schools

The Connect4Families toolkit was developed in 2023 to help families, providers, and schools better collaborate and connect children to behavioral health services and supports in Connecticut. Our goal is to have no wrong door for children, youth, and families to find behavioral health services and treatment in Connecticut, regardless of whether they first seek help at school, their pediatrician’s office, or through a helpline like 2-1-1.

The toolkit includes an updated, comprehensive resource and service directory, collaboration best practices and tips for providers and schools, information on privacy and confidentiality laws to be aware of, sample communication and referral forms, tips from parents and youth for providers, and much more.

The Connect4Families Toolkit was published in 2023 by the Connecting to Care initiative’s Family Care Connections (FCC) Workgroup. The content was developed by nationally recognized integrated care expert Barbara Ward-Zimmerman, Ph.D., with support from FCC Workgroup partners including The Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI)Carelon Behavioral HealthThe Consultation Center at Yale, and FAVOR, Inc. and input from families and providers. Funding was provided by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and the U.S. Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration.

Click here to explore the Connect4Families Toolkit.