Interorganizational relationships among providers of public social services for emotionally disturbed children in rural East Texas

The primary providers of services to Texas children with emotional/behavioral issues are local juvenile probation departments, Texas Youth Commission, Department of Family and Protective Services, local Mental Health Authorities, and school districts. These agencies currently face a variety of issues that impede their ability to deliver effective services. Responses to these issues have included narrowing eligibility criteria and imposing limits on the number of clients served at one time. Unfortunately, many of the individuals who need assistance are unable to access services and eventually find themselves in other less appropriate systems, such as foster care and juvenile justice. This is especially true for rural areas, which often lack the resources found in urban counties. Many believe the solution involves closing the “gaps” in services through interorganizational relationships. However, cooperative efforts require a substantial amount of commitment, time, effort and resources. More often than not, this is a difficult endeavor, especially given the barriers to rural service delivery, funding issues, and state level issues. Concept Mapping was employed to identify and assess the impact of factors that affect service providers’ ability to engage in interorganizational relationships, as well as deliver services to children who are at risk of or possess emotional/behavioral issues. The primary providers of services to Texas children with emotional/behavioral issues are local juvenile probation departments, Texas Youth Commission, Department of Family and Protective Services, local Mental Health Authorities, and school districts. These agencies currently face a variety of issues that impede their ability to deliver effective services. Responses to these issues have included narrowing eligibility criteria and imposing limits on the number of clients served at one time. Unfortunately, many of the individuals who need assistance are unable to access services and eventually find themselves in other less appropriate systems, such as foster care and juvenile justice. This is especially true for rural areas, which often lack the resources found in urban counties. Many believe the solution involves closing the “gaps” in services through interorganizational relationships. However, cooperative efforts require a substantial amount of commitment, time, effort and resources. More often than not, this is a difficult endeavor, especially given the barriers to rural service delivery, funding issues, and state level issues. Concept Mapping was employed to identify and assess the impact of factors that affect service providers’ ability to engage in interorganizational relationships, as well as deliver services to children who are at risk of or possess emotional/behavioral issues.