Transforming Together (T²) is a multi-year initiative to demonstrate how counties can align, integrate and expand behavioral health services and create a new, more effective ecosystem of care for youth and families.

We are advancing this goal by engaging county offices of education and their partners to spur and strengthen the cross-sector alignment in their communities needed to create a new ecosystem of care. As initiatives like the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) and the California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) connect more services and resources to schools, T² is helping counties incorporate these changes into a larger vision for the reimagining and improving their overall behavioral health system.

When systems are fragmented, professionals often find themselves spending more time navigating obstacles than actually meeting the needs of those they serve. A school counselor may scramble to locate mental health support for a student. A probation officer might be unsure who else is working with the same young person at the same time. A pediatrician could be treating a child without any insight into their housing instability.

In contrast, when systems are integrated, each professional can focus on their area of expertise. The result is not only a more efficient approach but also better outcomes for the individuals at the center of the work.