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DocuSign Envelope ID:636AFD33-DA5C-4B55-88DC-03C0863BAFE3 t A - continued <br /> Provider's Outside Agency Application <br /> MAIN APPLICATION <br /> education, and social services - all of which together form a vital safety net for some of our <br /> community's most vulnerable children and families. FAN Program goals are to increase <br /> parenting and system access skills in order to reduce the frequency of juvenile criminal <br /> justice system conflicts; increase school attendance and academic success; and increase <br /> parenting skills for DSS-involved parents to facilitate reunification with their children or to <br /> prevent removal from the home due to abuse or neglect allegations. Family Advocates <br /> provide support, case management, coaching, and education to better equip parents to be <br /> effective advocates for their children with mental health and substance abuse issues. <br /> c) Describe the local need or problem to be addressed in relation to the Consolidated Plan or <br /> other community priorities (i.e. Council/Board Goals). Cite local data to support the need <br /> for this program and the population being served. <br /> Research shows that half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14. Scientists <br /> are discovering that changes in the body leading to mental illness may start much earlier, <br /> long before any symptoms appear. Through greater understanding and research into child <br /> brain development, we are learning more about the early stages of a wide range of mental <br /> illnesses that appear later in life. Once mental illness develops, it becomes a regular part of <br /> a child's behavior and more difficult to treat. Though significant advances have been made <br /> to better treat many disorders, the National Institute of Mental Health reports that many <br /> children with mental illness do not get the treatment they need. While approximately one in <br /> five children under the age of 18 live with a diagnosable mental health condition, between <br /> 50-75% of these children do not receive treatment. <br /> According to the 2013 Orange County Census Report, there are an estimated 140,352 <br /> residents, 20.5% of whom are under age 18. Of the over 28,770 youth in the community, <br /> an estimated 5,754 are currently living with a mental health condition, meaning that here in <br /> Orange County, somewhere between 2,500 and 3,800 youth are not receiving needed <br /> treatment. <br /> 40% of the clients served by the FAN Advocates are through direct Orange County DSS <br /> referrals or self-referrals, usually DSS-involved families. In these situations, parenting <br /> classes are essential for maintaining their family units, or reunifying after removal has <br /> already taken place. Due to limited resources, FAN has been unable to meet the ever- <br /> growing demand for parenting classes - classes that are necessary for fostering healthy <br /> families in our county. Funding from JCPC does not support the parenting skills building <br /> classes. <br /> d) Describe the population to be served or the area to benefit and indicate how you will <br /> identify beneficiaries. <br /> Stigma around mental illness is a common factor among people who don't seek treatment. <br /> Parents often hesitate, not wanting their child to be labeled. In some circumstances, <br /> families are unable to afford treatment services, or treatment is otherwise inaccessible. <br /> Parents of these youth often do not understand mental illness and blame the child for <br /> making willful choices when, in fact, it is a health condition that causes the behaviors. The <br /> parents' denial of their child's mental health concerns can cause other problems within the <br /> family dynamic, including increased risk of abuse and neglect of children, and even set the <br /> stage for divisions between parents and other siblings. <br /> Youth may engage in negative behaviors, such as stealing, truancy, or fights at school, that <br /> cause the court system to become involved in the family's life. Likewise, mental illness can <br /> dramatically impact a young student's success in the public school system. Whether due to <br /> negative behaviors, severe depression, anxiety, or psychosis, parents and teachers <br /> Main Application 5/25/2016 9:20:28 AM P g of 20 <br />