What is a System of Care?
A system of care is a framework for providing a wide array of supports to individuals, from a strengths-based perspective. This approach is centered around family involvement and builds on multi-agency collaboration to provide support in an individualized, flexible manner in the least restrictive environment possible.
Many wraparound programs across the country are based on a system of care framework. Choices is working to advance systems of care to a broad range of services and populations. For example, our Youth Emergency Services program is an essential piece of the Marion County system of care. If you would like more information about systems of care, we recommend the Building Systems of Care Primer by Sheila A. Pires from Georgetown University.
For more information about Youth Emergency Services or other ways Choices is advancing systems of care, visit our System of Care Support section.
External Evaluation Proves Positive
Researchers at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis have determined that successful completion of the Dawn Project is associated with a significant reduction of youth returning to social services. Their study found 83 percent of those who completed the Dawn Project did not reenter the system.