Support Partners In Virginia

The Family Support Partner (FSP) is a paid position in Virginia that is designed to provide an intensive level of support for families of youth with mental health challenges. FSPs must have experience as a parent/caregiver of a youth with complex emotional or behavioral health needs. Because of their lived experience, FSPs are able to deeply engage with families, earning their respect and developing a trusting relationship. The lived experience of FSPs also makes them excellent keepers of information regarding resources in the community, a vital trait for the mission of increasing a family’s natural supports.

In HFW, Support Partners are formal members of the team and are equal workforce partners. They work closely with the Intensive Care Coordinator/HFW facilitator to support positive outcomes for the family. Their primary functions are to:

• Partner with the HFW Facilitator to ensure that the HFW process is successful for youth and families
• Provide direct support to family members and their natural supports to carry out action steps within the HFW plan
• Connect families to other families that have had similar experiences

In many instances, localities that have used Support Partners with HFW in Virginia have found that the youth in these families have reduced psychiatric hospitalizations, reduced emergency room visits for mental health reasons, fewer residential treatment placements, and the families become more self-sufficient through the process. For this reason, with the award of the System of Care grant in 2016, Virginia decided to pilot the FSP service outside of HFW. In these localities, FSPs and YSPs are being used as a stand-alone service for families waiting for other services or in combination with other services such as crisis stabilization, outpatient, intensive home-based services, respite, and day treatment.

Whether they are providing support through the HFW process or with other services, the goals of the role are the same in that they work to keep families together, enhance the independence of the family, and facilitate connections in the community as well as with other families. Both Intensive Care Coordination/High Fidelity Wraparound and Support Partner Services are reimbursable for youth (and families) that are eligible for Children’s Services Act funding. Those Support Partners who are providing a stand-alone service are not required to take HFW training.