How states, tribes and localities are re-defining systems of care

The original definition of system of care was developed 20 years ago largely in response to the fragmented services experienced by children with serious emotional disorders and their families, who, typically, were involved in multiple systems and/or receiving services from different providers. Over time, in response to national funders’ pursuing system of care for different populations and their own experience, states, tribes and localities have applied system of care principles, values and operational characteristics to other populations (children and adults). The definition offered by Hodges et al., has an unintended effect of constraining the properties (and potential) of system of care in its limitation to a single population. This paper argues that the adaptations made to the original Stroul and Friedman definition in the training curriculum Building Systems of Care: A Primer adequately encompass properties that reflect state, tribal and local implementation experience and are specific to planning, implementing and evaluating a system of care, without limiting system of care to any one population.