The Alliance aims to provide a structured, formal mechanism for government, community stakeholders, the private sector and people with lived experience, to connect and work collaboratively towards improving mental health service system responses for children and young people. The Alliance is led by the Office for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Capital Health Network and the Youth Coalition, with support from a Coordinating Committee of key stakeholders.
Background
The Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Capital Health Network (CHN) and the Youth Coalition of the ACT have worked closely together over recent years to understand the needs of the ‘missing middle’ – children and young people with moderate to severe mental health issues who experience difficulties accessing services. This research led to the release of the report ‘Understanding the Missing Middle’.
Findings of this report described the need for services across sectors to work collaboratively to address service and system constraints and challenges that contribute to the missing middle. Based on this recommendation, a range of stakeholders across the mental health, education, child, youth and family sectors participated in strategic planning activities to design a Child and Youth Mental Health Services Alliance (the Alliance) in the ACT.
Alliance Report: July 2023 to December 2024
This report provides an overview of the first 18 months of the Alliance, inclusive of its establishment and early delivery. The report draws on extensive consultation and feedback processes ingrained in the Alliance’s activities though this period.
It is available to view here.