PROGRAMS AND LOCATIONS

TEAMMATES

TEAMMATES is a leader in the provision of Wraparound in the Los Angeles Area. Wraparound encompasses a set of values and principles that are reflected in a specific program model for developing and/or facilitating access to a flexible range of services. These services are designed to “do whatever it takes” to help youth and their families to stay together, achieve success, attend school, and participate in community activities. This innovative approach combines mental health and child welfare methods in a comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitative approach.

Our “Whatever it Takes” Approach

In the following paragraphs, we highlight our Wraparound approach, as well as the program and services that our teams employ in implementing this approach:

• TEAMMATES Wraparound Approach — TEAMMATES’ intensive, community-based and family-centered approach is implemented by collaborative teams, including professional and lay staff, and family and community representatives. The following nontraditional approaches are employed to provide "Whatever it Takes" to help youth and their family to succeed:
  
  
  • Consumer Voice, Choice, and Access — Youth and family are full and active partners at every level and every activity of the service process.
  • Youth and Family Team — Children/youth, family, natural supports, program staff, and public agency representatives together develop and implement services.
  • Community-Based Services — Services are provided in home, school, and community settings accessible to clients and families.
  • Cultural Competence — The service process builds on the unique values, strengths, preferences and needs of children, families, and their communities.
  • Individualized and Strength-Based — Services are tailored to the individual client and their family and build from their strengths in order to achieve success.
  • Natural Supports — There is unconditional commitment to serve each child and family and not give up in the face of obstacles and setbacks.
  • Continuation of Care — Services are provided in home, school, and community settings accessible to clients and families.
  • Collaboration — Plans of care are developed and implemented with full interagency, provider, community and family/child participation.
  • Flexible Resources — The service approach is designed to draw flexibly from all available resources to meet child and family needs.
  • Outcome–Based Services — Outcomes are measured for the system, program and the individual child/family — all of which are used to refine and improve services.

• TEAMMATES Programs and Services — Below is a partial list of the comprehensive programs and services available to our Wraparound clients:
  
  
  • Personalized family safety planning and supports
  • Health screening and referrals
  • Independent living skills training
  • Crisis intervention
  • Mental health services
  • Psychological and psychiatric assessments and services
  • Specialized groups for youth and parents
  • Transportation and other support services

• An Evidence–informed (Promising) Practice — Evidence-based Practices (EBPs) are those interventions and supports that have research documenting their effectiveness. Evidence-informed and promising practices are also research-supported but do not yet have the body of rigorous clinical evidence that distinguishes EBPs. The Wraparound model is a strong promising practice that is viewed by the California Evidence-based Practice Clearinghouse on Child Welfare as having high relevance to child welfare populations. The Wraparound approach addresses the needs of children and youth in home, school, and community settings to avoid out-of-home placement or psychiatric hospitalization. This program model also supports children and youth in their return to a stable family and community following out-of-home care.

Inter-Agency Collaboration

In addition to our Wraparound interventions, clients and their families may take advantage of other programs and services through our affiliates, Star View Children and Family Services (SVCFS) and Star View Community Services:

• Family Preservation — Our do “Whatever it Takes” approach extends to our Family Preservation program and supports our goal of keeping families intact. The wide range of services that we offer families helps to keep them connected to and thriving within their communities.
  
  
• Mentoring — This promising practice recruits and links adult mentors to at risk-youth. The mentor relationship with the youth mirrors real-world supports and affiliations and as such is effective in improving educational, vocational, and community functioning outcomes.
  
  
• Behavioral Severity Assessment Program — This field–based, up-front assessment is completed by a mental health professional to assist child welfare professionals in assessing the child and the family’s risk of mental health, substance use, and domestic violence issues.
  
  
• Trauma–Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Functional Family Therapy — Through referral to SVCFS' mental health division, children can receive Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Functional Family Therapy. Both EBPs have been effective with the profile of TEAMMATES clients — specifically age group and family needs.

Our interagency collaborative efforts extend beyond our own affiliated agencies through such initiatives as the Los Angeles Training Collaborative — latconline.org. The LATC is dedicated to expanding Los Angeles County’s Wraparound capacity by offering curriculum development, coaching and consultation to lead Wraparound agencies, public agency workers, educators, oversight entities, collaborating partners, families, courts, referral sources or others interested in the Wraparound process. It is comprised of the four lead Wraparound agencies in Los Angeles County, including our program.

Employee Satisfaction Survey

Each year, all staff programs complete anonymous Employee Satisfaction Surveys. The entire management team carefully reviews survey results to identify areas where we are successful in making our agency a great place to work, as well as to identify areas for improvement. By using the same survey each year, we can measure our success and focus our efforts on continually improving our work environment.

For a selection of results from a recent Employee Satisfaction Survey for TEAMMATES, see Our Staff.

Contact:

Ontson Placide, LMFT
TEAMMATES Administrator
Star View Children & Family Services
1085 W. Victoria Street
Compton, CA 90220-5804
Phone: (310) 868-5379, Ext. 147
Fax: (310) 868-5397, 5398
oplacide@starsinc.com

Driving Directions:

From Los Angeles:
Take the I-110 S to
91 Fwy E
Exit Wilmington, Turn Right (Head South)
Turn Right on Victoria

From Orange County:
From the 91 Frwy traveling West:
Exit Wilmington, Turn Left (Head South)
Turn Right on Victoria

From the 405 Frwy traveling North:
Exit Wilmington, Turn Right (Head North)
Turn Left on Victoria