Implementing the C-STARS Interprofessional Case Management Model for At-Risk Children.

The Center for the Study and Teaching of At-Risk Students (C-STARS) is a demonstration and validation program which addresses the needs of at-risk children. This model is school referenced, yet designed to enhance the ability of educators to take into account non-school factors which impinge on their ability to provide adequate educational experiences for children who are at-risk. The model entails four interfacing components: (1) steering and development of case management; (2) generic case management functions including accessing and assessing students, advocacy, developing a service plan, brokering services, implementing a service plan, mentoring, and evaluation and tracking; (3) special implementation considerations which pertain to program quality, equity and comprehensiveness; and (4) a university interdisciplinary team that provides technical assistance, training and other support. Training workshops assist steering groups to plan for interprofessional case management and prepare newly formed school-site teams to develop the basic functions of case management and to develop specialized competencies. Good case evaluation is the basic unit of good program evaluation. The Self-Analysis Checklist, the Monthly Student Progress Update, the Individual Service Plan/Checklist, and Targeted Student's Record are four evaluation instruments used in the evaluation. Other evaluation activities include team member and consumer (student, family) opinionnaires regarding services provided. (Three unique site-specific applications of the model are described.) (BHK)