System of Care

Purpose: The System of Care (SOC) is a local network that advocates for the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families living in the Marion-Polk community. We focus on strengthening systems and responding to the needs of young people who get many types of services and resources through community support.

Core Responsibilities:

• • Meaningfully engage youth, families, and local child, youth, and family-serving partners to continuously improve supports and services for children, youth, and families in the Marion-Polk region.
  • Address barriers children, youth, and families experience trying to access services and supports that support their health and wellbeing.
  • Advocate across sectors for program and policy change to better serve local children, youth, and families.

2026 Priorities:

• • Establish a Family Leadership Team to create a space dedicated to the family and caregiver voice.
  • Continue to support Youth Leaders in leadership positions and resolution of youth-identified barriers.
  • Continue to support and enhance partnership with culturally-specific community-based organizations within the Marion-Polk region to further outreach within underserved communities.
  • Partner with local child, youth, and family-serving organizations to explore workforce needs pertaining to early childhood services, spanning perinatal to age 5.
  • Partner with local healthcare systems, education partners, and community-based organizations to assess the effectiveness of current school-based health services.
  • Partner with local mental and behavioral health partners and community-based organizations to expand/develop youth services within the mental health continuum of care to divert youth from crisis services.