Official Government Website

YES History and Current Development

YES, the new system of care in children’s mental health, is due to the Jeff D. class action lawsuit and the resulting Settlement Agreement. The lawsuit began in 1980 when children were co-mingled with adults at State Hospital South (SHS). There was a lack of appropriate treatment services and educational services at SHS, as well as a lack of community-based mental health services across Idaho.

After many hearings over 30 years, the court encouraged a mediation process in order to identify solutions. Mediation occurred from September 2013 through December 2014. Key community stakeholders representing parents, advocates, private providers, representatives from the parties in the lawsuit (Department of Health and Welfare, Department of Juvenile Corrections, and Idaho Department of Education) and attorneys representing the Class Members participated in these negotiations. The outcome of the process was the development of the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement. The Settlement Agreement is a high-level description of what the state agrees to do to have the lawsuit dismissed. It also describes the services that will be put into place under the new system of care. Following the court approval of the Settlement Agreement, the agency partners worked together to create the Idaho Implementation Plan, the framework for the new system of care.

Click on the links below to learn more about the YES Settlement Agreement, plans, studies and reports related to building out the new children’s mental health system of care in Idaho.

RESOURCES

YES System of Care Terms to Know
Terms IconSystem of Care Terms to Know
Terms IconYES Project Terms to Know
Terms IconProject Terms to Know
Terms IconQuality Management Improvement and Accountability (QMIA)

Project Documentation

Read the terms of the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement and the appendixes to the agreement by clicking on the links below.

In 2016, the parties agreed to and the court ordered an Implementation Plan to map out the process for implementing the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement.

New Implementation Assurance Plan

On January 25, 2022, the Court approved a new Implementation Assurance Plan (IAP) that was jointly proposed by the parties to the Jeff D. lawsuit. The IAP is the result of several months of collaboration involving Plaintiffs’ counsel, the Implementation Work Group, and the Defendants. It is intended to be a roadmap for completing implementation of the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement. 

The reports in this section detail the ways the YES partners are working together to implement YES, meet the requirements in the Settlement Agreement, and transform the mental health services for children and youth into a comprehensive integrated system of care.

The Defendants are responsible for implementing the IAP’s details within the timelines outlined in the IAP.  The following deliverables have been met. 

  • Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) posted a Residential Facilities Index on the YES Website.
    • IAP Deliverable: DHW will “Complete an index listing all residential facilities identified or authorized to serve YES Class Members.” IAP Objective B, strategy 3.c.
  • The parties have agreed to a definition of Real-Time for CANS.
    • IAP Deliverable: “With the assistance of Praed’s CANS experts, consulting with the State, the parties will agree on the definition or parameters of ‘real-time.’” IAP Objective G, strategy 1.b.
  • Attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants have finalized the Due Process Protocol.
    • IAP Deliverable: “In order to ensure that Class Members are aware of and notified of their procedural due process rights – as guaranteed by the Constitution, federal and state law – and that those rights are provided to Class Members, counsel for the parties will develop and memorialize an * * * “Authoritative Due Process Protocol.” IAP Objective E, strategy 1.
  • The parties have jointly developed a Quality Review Process. 
    • IAP Deliverable: “IDHW will complete the development of the YES QR process jointly with Plaintiffs as required by the Settlement Agreement, Paragraphs 56 and 57, no later than June 30, 2022.” IAP Objective G, strategy 4. 
  • IDHW will provide a Project Coordinator to support the Interagency Governance Team (IGT).
    • IAP Deliverable: “The IGT will: * * * Secure staffing and funding resources from IDHW necessary to do its work no later than July 1, 2022. Administrator(s) for IDHW will confirm in writing to Plaintiffs that this provision has been met.” IAP Objective F, strategy 1.c.

If you have additional questions about the implementation of the Settlement Agreement, please send an email to the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) inbox. 

The Interagency Governance Team (IGT) is responsible for collaboratively coordinating and overseeing the implementation of the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement. This team consists of representatives from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, the Idaho Department of Education, and the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections, county detention, parents, youth, providers, and community members.

The IGT meets on the second Wednesday of the month. Agendas and minutes from these meetings are public and may be viewed, along with the Operational Guidelines and the Workgroup Charter, below.

IGT Operational Guidelines
The purpose of the Interagency Governance Team (IGT) is to establish a governance structure to oversee the implementation and operation of Youth Empowerment Services (YES) and Quality Management Improvement and Accountability (QMIA) program. The IGT ensures that the state’s policies and procedures promote the successful development and operation of a new and improved children’s mental health system of care that includes the participation of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), Idaho Department of Education (IDE) and the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC).

IGT Workgroup Charter
The IGT shall advise the parties to the Settlement Agreement on implementation of the system of care described in the Agreement and serve as a vehicle for communication among parties, to identify and remove barriers to implementation, and monitor implementation of the Agreement through the YES Project Plan.

IGT Bylaws – Updated as of October 9, 2024

IGT Roles & Responsibilities Grid – Completed on November 10, 2022

IGT Strategic Plan 2021-2024
A subcommittee of the Interagency Governance Team (IGT) was appointed in January 2021 to draft a three-year Strategic Plan.

IGT Annual Reports

The IGT Annual Report is an annual summary report from IGT meeting minutes that includes IGT’s viewpoints on developing issues, recommendations, progress on implementation, unaddressed input and advice from stakeholders, and other applicable information germane to the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement. 

IGT Meeting Agendas and Minutes

2025 Meeting Agendas

IGT Meeting Schedule for Calendar Year 2025

  • March 2025
  • June 2025
  • September 2025
  • December 2025

2024 Meeting Agendas

Revised Meeting Schedule for Calendar Year 2024

2025 Meeting Minutes

  • March 2025
  • June 2025
  • September 2025
  • December 2025

2024 Meeting Minutes

2023 Meeting Minutes

2022 Meeting Minutes

2021 Meeting Minutes

2020 Meeting Minutes

2019 Meeting Minutes

2018 Meeting Minutes

2017 Meeting Minutes

2016 Meeting Minutes 

The YES Workforce Development and Training Group is responsible for:

  • Identifying gaps in workforce capacity to meet the needs of children and youth.
  • Meeting workforce capacity need to enable children and families access to necessary services and supports
  • Providing training, education, coaching, and supervision to the workforce.
  • Developing sustainability of the workforce to deliver services and supports.

Workforce Development and Training Plan — May 2017
The initial WFD Plan provides a framework and a phased approach for how the state will address the current and future demands for a sufficient and competent mental health workforce and begin to envision the infrastructure needed to operate the system of care over time.

Workforce Development and Training Plan Annual Update – 2018
This report, the first annual update of the workforce development plan, details the ways in which the State of Idaho, in collaboration with agency partners, Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), Idaho Department of Education (IDE) and Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections (IDJC), have been working together to meet the goals and objectives outlined in the Workforce Development Plan.

Workforce Provider Survey Results — June 2018
This report informs the State of Idaho’s Children’s Mental Health Workforce Development Plan by providing information regarding Idaho mental health providers’ capacity to serve children and youth who have serious emotional disturbance. IDHW-DBH contracted with Boise State University’s School of Social Work to complete a workforce capacity and gaps analysis as one input to the State’s Children’s Mental Health Workforce Development Plan. This report presents mental health provider profiles and workforce capacity based on the results of a survey conducted by Mary Elizabeth Rider, MSW of Rider Consulting under the direction of Dr. Nathaniel Williams of Boise State University.

Workforce Capacity and Gaps Analysis — July 2018
This report presents the findings of the 2018 Youth Mental Health Services Workforce Capacity and Gaps Analysis. This work was commissioned by the Department of Health and Welfare (DHW), Division of Behavioral Health and completed by Boise State University’s School of Social Work to help guide Idaho’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) system transformation.

YES Workforce Development Report: Strategy Groups – January 2020
The YES Workforce Development Report documents achievements and recommendations from the workforce development strategy groups between November 2019 through October 2020 and provides recommendations for next steps to the leadership team.

YES Communications Strategic Planning Workgroup – Charter Amended May 28, 2022
The workgroup’s purpose is to recognize communication needs throughout the YES system of care, identify the resources and stakeholder representatives needed to develop new content, and communicate this information to the IGT so that partners may allocate appropriate resources as needed.
All communication needs are considered, but the following areas are anticipated to be specifically monitored by the Communications Strategic Planning Workgroup to ensure accuracy and consistency:

  • Materials to help families access the YES system of care.
  • Informational materials, including flyers, brochures, and videos, that explain the YES system of care to families, providers, and community partners.
  • YES.idaho.gov website content.
  • Materials provided by YES partners, including the Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho Department of Education, and the Department of Juvenile Corrections.
  • Involving all partners to ensure consistency throughout YES messaging builds trust, reduces confusion, and streamlines the process for families to access services.

New Communications Workgroup and Charter: YES Communications Strategic Planning Workgroup Charter – Adopted April 22, 2020
The workgroup’s purpose is to recognize communication needs throughout the YES system of care, identify the resources and stakeholder representatives needed to develop new content, and communicate this information to the IGT so that partners may allocate appropriate resources as needed.

Communications Workgroup Charter – Revised 4/9/2018
The workgroup’s purpose is to meet the communication needs for a new system of care during the development and implementation of the YES project as described in the Jeff D. Settlement Agreement.

Communication Plan v. 2.0 – Revised 4/3/2017
The purpose of this plan is to describe the communication needs of the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) system of care, its stakeholders, resources, and other interested parties. It also addresses specific communication objectives and methods for outreach to stakeholders and communicates all the changes that are occurring as a result of the project.

Youth Empowerment Services: Children’s Mental Health Reform Project: Project Plan
The Youth Empowerment Services: Children’s Mental Health Reform Project (YES: CMHR Project) was initiated to operationalize the Idaho Implementation Plan. By focusing on the development of a new system of care for children and youth with SED the state expects primarily to build a transformational process across specific child-serving entities that will eventually result in better outcomes for the families that access it.

Overview of YES Workgroups – February 2019
As noted in the YES Implementation plan, state agencies, in collaboration, reach out to stakeholders for resources to actively participate in project workgroups. Workgroups have been identified for each of the plan objectives and are executing the objective strategies, completing deliverables to meet their respective objectives goals.

Project Updates
These documents identify what has been accomplished and what is being worked on during the development of the YES system of care.

2019

2018

2017

2016

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results, 2024

Unmet Need for Mental Health Services among Idaho Youth, 2024

Biannual Estimate of Need for Intensive Care Coordination using Wraparound in Idaho, SFY 2024
June 2024 Report

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results, 2023
Nathaniel Williams, PhD, LCSW
James Beauchemin, PhD, LCSW
Nallely Vega, LMSW
Boise State University
School of Social Work

Quality Review Report: Agency Survey – 2023
By Union Point Group
The purpose of Idaho’s annual Quality Review is fourfold. Namely, to: objectively assess and improve clinical practice and program effectiveness systemwide; identify program strengths and needs; develop actionable clinical data / information; identify targeted areas for system improvement.

CFT Data collection and reporting protocol
By Candace Falsetti, QMIA Director

CANS Protocol
By Candace Falsetti, QMIA Director

Unmet Need for Mental Health Services Among Idaho Youth – 2023

Biannual Estimate of Need for Intensive Care Coordination using Wraparound in Idaho, SFY 2024 (December 2023 report)
Nathaniel J. Williams, PhD, LCSW
James Beauchemin, PhD, LCSW
Boise State University
The purpose of this report is to estimate the number of Idaho youth who likely needed Intensive Care Coordination using high-quality Wraparound in order to meet their mental health needs in State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024.

Final Report of the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Quality Review (SFY 2022)
Union Point Group

Report: Provider Survey of the YES Quality Review, FY 2021-2022
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
This statewide survey of providers was used as part of the Quality Review process to gauge how well the YES system of care provides the continuum of care needed by children and youth.

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results, 2022
Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results Presentation, 2022
Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results, 2023
Nathaniel Williams, PhD, LCSW
James Beauchemin, PhD, LCSW
Boise State University
This survey was commissioned by the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Behavioral Health and completed by investigators at Boise State University’s School of Social Work. The overarching aims of the survey were to assess families’ experiences and outcomes of care in Idaho’s YES system and to guide service improvement efforts.

“How can we be sure kids are getting what they need?”
A Scoping Review of Quality Measures for Child Behavioral Health
Nathaniel Williams, PhD, LCSW

Benchmarks: Using Benchmarks to Create a High-Performing System
Union Point Group

Psychometric Evaluation of a Programmatic Measure for Assessing Adherence to System of Care Principles in Behavioral Health Service Interactions, 2021
Nathaniel Williams, PhD, LCSW
James Beauchemin, PhD, LCSW
Boise State University

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results, 2021
Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Family Survey Results Presentation, 2021
Nathaniel Williams, PhD, LCSW
James Beauchemin, PhD, LCSW
Boise State University
This survey was commissioned by the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Behavioral Health and completed by investigators at Boise State University’s School of Social Work. The overarching aims of the survey were to assess families’ experiences and outcomes of care in Idaho’s YES system and to guide service improvement efforts.

Executive Summary of the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Quality Review Pilot Recommendations, 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
This document provides a summary of the key recommendations from the Quality Review report, how the recommendations were established and incremental action steps to address the recommendations.

Care Benchmarks in Quality Review, 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
The benchmarks provided in this quality review represent a synthesis of the current best evidence from previous quality reviews and from the research literature. The findings tell us how the frequency and type of certain practices improve outcomes for youth and their families. The highlighted benchmarks are standards of effectiveness and are included in the larger Quality Review report.

Crisis Care: Initial Quality Snapshot, 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
Crisis care was explored in routine outpatient and Wraparound cases at six sites across Idaho. Twenty-six individuals in care for more than six months were interviewed, and their care documentation reviewed, to better understand the quality of crisis care. This initial snapshot of crisis care provides further information about critical services provided in the outpatient setting and during Wraparound and address the overall helpfulness of services received, which is included in the larger Quality Review report.

Care Conversation: Designing a Human-Centered System, 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
Focus Groups and interviews were conducted with over 50 youth and caregivers to provide a set of practices which could increase the helpfulness of care. Desired and disengaged practices at each care process were described. These summaries of care provide a clear set of practices that would signal a shift in human centered care that address access, assessment and matching care to goals, which are highlighted in the larger Quality Review report.

Wraparound: System and Practice Considerations, 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
Wraparound is designed to coordinate care among youth at risk for out of home placement. Parent and youth experiences of Wraparound practices were reported by therapist and care coordinators. Care outcomes and provider reported continuum of care availability were assessed. Wraparound is analyzed in the larger Quality Review report in initial outcomes, treatment practices, care coordination practices and helpfulness of practices.

Quality Review of Youth Empowerment Services (YES), 2021
Nathaniel Israel, Ph.D
Union Point Group
This report summarizes the findings of the Quality Review process, which included family and youth interviews, file review, focus groups, and a provider survey. The results represent youth with at least six months of care, and includes youth served in typical outpatient care as well as a subset of youth served in Wraparound care. The report has three main foci: outpatient care, Wraparound care and care equity. Recommendations focus on key care processes experienced by persons in these analyses.

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services Family Survey Results, 2020
Nathaniel J. Williams, Ph.D., LCSW
James Beauchemin, Ph.D., LCSW
Boise State University
This survey was commissioned by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) and completed by investigators at Boise State University’s School of Social Work. The overarching aims of the survey were to assess families’ experiences and outcomes of care in Idaho’s YES system and to guide service improvement efforts.

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services Family Survey Results, 2019
Nathaniel J. Williams, Ph.D., LCSW
James Beauchemin, Ph.D., LCSW
Boise State University
The survey was commissioned by the Department of Health and Welfare, Division of Behavioral Health and completed by investigators at Boise State University’s School of Social Work. The overarching aims of the survey were to assess families’ experiences and outcomes of care in Idaho’s YES system and to guide service improvement efforts.

Idaho Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Workforce Capacity and Gaps Analysis, July 2018
Nathaniel J. Williams, PhD
Nicole O’Reilly
Boise State University
This report presents the findings of the 2018 Youth Mental Health Services Workforce Capacity and Gaps Analysis commissioned by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW), Division of Behavioral Health and completed by Boise State University’s School of Social Work to help guide Idaho’s Youth Empowerment Services (YES) system transformation. This report provides a foundation for the State’s YES workforce development planning and activities by assessing the current capacity of Idaho’s Medicaid youth mental health services workforce to meet the needs of Idaho youth with serious emotional disturbance.

Parent Survey for Youth Empowerment Services Trainings: Results and Analysis May 2018
The implementation plan includes training parents and caregivers about the new system of care services and how to access these services. The plan also speaks to engaging families in outreach and educating other stakeholders. This survey was meant to provide an opportunity for parents/caregivers to share their thoughts and ideas regarding the approach to engaging, educating, and involving parents/caregivers in the training process.

Estimated Need for Intensive Care Coordination among Idaho Youth – February 2018
Nathaniel J. Williams, PhD
Boise State University
Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) with high-quality wraparound is a case management service designed to support youth with the most complex and severe mental health needs so they can remain in the community rather than being placed out-of-home. In order to monitor the state’s progress toward meeting the needs of this population, an estimate of the number of Idaho youth who are likely to need/ utilize ICC is required. This report provides such an estimate.

Evaluation of Methods to estimate SED Prevalence in Idaho- November 2017
By Nathaniel J. Williams, PhD
Boise State University
November 2017
The purpose of this report is to evaluate a methodology proposed by the Department of Health and Welfare to estimate the number of youth who experience serious emotional disturbance (SED) in the State of Idaho.

Youth Empowerment Services (YES) System Capacity Analysis Report – January 2017
Opportunities to improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in Idaho through the Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Project include providing timely access to a full array of mental health services in the scope, intensity, and duration that meet the needs of the target population. A comprehensive analysis of the capacity of Idaho’s mental health treatment system to deliver the continuum of mental health services is needed periodically to effectively guide the state’s transformation efforts in workforce development to successfully meet this goal.

Resources for Families – Prior to July 1, 2024 new IBHP implementation

Collaboration for the Greater Good of our Children
January 29, 2019

Communication as Equals in the YES System
December 13, 2018

State Agencies: Who Does What?
November 13, 2018

Insurance:  Which One, What Services, Questions You Need to Ask
October 30, 2018
Presenters:  Janet Hoeke, Parent Network, Weston Trexler, Department of Insurance, Jamie Teeter, Division of Behavioral Health, David Welch, Medicaid

Being a Parent of a Kid with an SED
September 20, 2018
Presenters:  Carol Dixon, Idaho Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, and Janet Hoeke, Parent Network representative, parent panel.

What to Expect with Coordination of Care
July 17, 2018
Presenters: Jennifer Barnett, LCSW, Division of Behavioral Health and Janet Hoeke, Parent Network representative.

Principles of Care
July 12, 2018
Presenters: April Auker, LCSW, Division of Behavioral Health and Stacey Nelson, Parent Network representative.

How to Get the Most of a CANS Assessment
May 29, 2018
Presenters: Janet Hoeke, Parent Network, Jennifer Barnett, LCSW, Division of Behavioral Health and Andrea Emmons, Liberty Independent Assessor.

How Can My Family Access Medicaid Youth Empowerment Services?
March 29, 2018
Presenters: David Welsh, Medicaid Program Manager; Janet Hoeke, Parent Network representative.

Provider Resources – ICANS and TCOM

CMH Screener

How to Use the CMH Screener

CMH Screener Manual

Historical CANS Training Videos 

Click on the links below to view historical trainings on the DHW YouTube Channel.

  Idaho CANS and Parent Perspective –  Intro (Part 1 of 7)

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 2

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 3

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 4

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 5

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 6

  TCOM and Idaho CANS Overview Part 7

CANS for All Stakeholders Presentation Slides – Click on the link below for the presenter’s slides from the Child and Adolescent Needs & Strengths training (PDF): CANS_TCOM Creating and Managing Systems that Care – Dr. Lyons

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