The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. CORE (Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education) has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Placement Stabilization, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

The CORE program targets families with children (ages 0-19 years) in transition such as those who are living in homeless shelters, temporary or doubled-up housing situations, or in foster care situations. The purpose is to improve the stability and well-being for children and families by providing a wide range of wrap-around services to improve conditions that place children and families living in transition at-risk for health, social, psychological, and safety concerns. The CORE program helps families with: coordination of medical care for their children; identification of resources that will facilitate family function and stability including counseling; support with recovery from substance abuse; and referral and assistance with completing housing applications.

Target Population: Families and children (ages 0-19 years) in transition, such as those who are living in homeless shelters, temporary or doubled-up housing situations, or in foster care situations. The caregivers may be relative or non-relative, young or old.

For children/adolescents ages: 0 – 19

For parents/caregivers of children ages: 0 – 19

Overview

• Provides a wide range of mental health and case management services to families in transition.
• Focuses on finding a solution to the client’s problems.
• Embraces elements from several philosophies including social justice, cultural responsiveness, family preservation, and public health.
• Provides wrap-around services that are informed by the disciplines of mental health, social service, and psychology.

Eligibility

• The family must contain at least one child, age birth to 19.
• The family must be in transition. Being in transition is defined as living in temporary accommodations including homeless shelters, transitional housing, in doubled-up circumstances where one family lives with another due to the inability to pay for their own place, or foster care or group homes.

Services offered

• Parenting Assistance
• Life Skills (e.g., money management)
• School Interventions
• Relapse Prevention
• Referral to Ongoing Services
• Family Communication Building
• Housing Information & Referral
• Self-Management of Attitudes and Behavior
• Safety Planning
• Concrete and Advocacy Services

CORE (Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education) was designed with a child/adolescent component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms for children/adolescents ages 0 – 19:

• Behavioral concerns and past trauma from impoverished environments or instability, including placement into foster care.

CORE (Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education) was designed with a parent/caregiver component that addresses the following presenting problems and symptoms for parents/caregivers of children ages 0 – 19:

• Depression and different levels of recovery from substance abuse problems.

CORE (Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education) was not designed to be conducted in a group setting, and has not been tested for use in a group setting.

Recommended Intensity:

Frequency of client contact may range from three times per week to one time a month. Some contacts may be only 15 minutes long to provide a referral or obtain some basic information; other contacts may be three hours long.

Recommended Duration:

Very individualized services are provided so program duration varies based on family need.

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Birth Family Home
• Community Agency
• Foster Home
• Hospital
• Outpatient Clinic
• School

This program does not include a homework component.

CORE (Case Management, Outreach, Referral, and Education) does not have materials available in a language other than English.

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

One or two play-therapy rooms onsite; Staff of Master's level social worker and doctorally prepared psychologists averaging more than five years of experience with underserved families, and have access to offsite locations.

• Therapists: Master's or doctorate level with experience working with underserved families.
• Supervisors: Licensed social worker or psychologist.

There is not a manual that describes how to implement this program; but there is training available for this program.

Training Contacts:

• Cheryl Zlotnick, RN, DrPH
  Czlotnick@mail.cho.org
  phone: (510) 428-3783
• Lisa Berndt, LCSW
  lberndt@mail.cho.org
  phone: (510) 428-3783

Training is obtained:

Onsite orientation

Number of days/hours:

Informal Consultation

This program has been reviewed and it was determined that this program lacks the type of published, peer-reviewed research that meets the CEBC criteria for a scientific rating of 1 – 5. Therefore, the program has been given the classification of "NR - Not able to be Rated." It was reviewed because it was identified by the topic expert as a program being used in the field, or it is being marketed and/or used in California with children receiving services from child welfare or related systems and their parents/caregivers. Some programs that are not rated may have published, peer-reviewed research that does not meet the above stated criteria or may have eligible studies that have not yet been published in the peer-reviewed literature. For more information on the "NR - Not able to be Rated" classification, please see the Scientific Rating Scale.

Child Welfare Outcomes: Not Specified