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1. What is CASSP?

Child & Adolescent Service System Program (CASSP) is a system service model that was established at the federal level to improve treatment and service delivery across systems for children and adolescents in their communities; Pennsylvania implemented the CASSP system in 1986. Westmoreland County has the following CASSP activities:

• Quarterly CASSP/ICSP meetings
  
• CASSP Community Team meetings (Located in Greensburg, New Kensington, and Monessen)
  
• CASSP representatives assigned to school districts

2. What is a CASSP team meeting?

CASSP meetings are the mechanism to help agencies, systems, and schools determine which avenue that should be pursued when looking for resources and supports for youth with or at risk of developing severe emotional disorders; CASSP meetings always include the youth and their families

3. How can a CASSP team meeting help schools prevent truancy?

A CASSP team meeting can allow for open communication and dialogue with the youth, family, and others involved in the youth’s life; the meeting can offer:

• Cross system coordination and collaboration (identify who is doing what)
  
• Explore and identify appropriate resources and supports for the youth/family
  
• Engage family members and youth using a strength based approach
  
• Identify barriers that may impede the access to treatment services
  
• Discuss school truancy concerns and offer recommendations
  
• Offer written recommendations to families/referral source (recommendation and information for services, programs, supports/advocacy)
  

4. What a CASSP meeting cannot do

Determine medical necessity for mental health treatment services

• Authorize or approve payment for mental health treatment services
  
• Determine custodial rights, visitation, or court recommendations
  
• Develop a truancy elimination plan
  

5. Is there a cost to host a CASSP team meeting?

No, CASSP meetings are no cost to children and their families living in Westmoreland County; meetings can be held for children returning from out of home placement from another county for planning and collaboration purposes

6. Who attends a CASSP meeting?

Family members, parents, guardians, children/adolescents,
treatment team members, and all identified natural supports are welcome to participate in a
CASSP team meeting; in addition, the CORE team members will be attendance (see attached
listing of CASSP core members). If a youth is 14 years of age or older, they must consent to
the meeting; however, the youth does not have to attend the CASSP meeting.

7. What is the role of the CASSP school representative?

The CASSP representative is a Westmoreland County Behavioral Health and Developmental Services office program specialist; the assignment of a CASSP representative to schools began in August, 2013. Your CASSP representative can assist a school building/district with:

• Consultation to determine the need for a CASSP team meeting
  
• Technical assistance to address behavioral health need of child/adolescent with
  complex mental health needs
  
• Consultation regarding community and school based mental health treatment
  services and providers
  
• General understanding and education regarding access to public mental health
  treatment services
  
• Assistance with the CASSP team meeting referral process