The National Technical Assistance Center for Children's Mental Health at the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development offered Training Institutes on local systems of care for children and adolescents with or at risk for mental health challenges and their families in July, 2010. The biennial Training Institutes were organized in partnership with the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the federal Center for Mental Health Services and The Annie E. Casey Foundation.

The intent of the Institutes was to provide in-depth, practical information on how to develop, operate, and sustain systems of care and how to provide high-quality, effective clinical interventions and supports within them. Systems of care emphasize community-based care, comprehensive and individualized services and supports, family-driven and youth-guided care, cultural and linguistic competence, services provided within the least restrictive environment, and coordination among child-serving agencies and programs.

The Institutes were designed for a variety of individuals including state, tribal, territorial, and local administrators, planners, providers, clinicians, care managers, families, youth, advocates, managed care organizations, educators, evaluators, technical assistance providers, and others concerned with improving services for children and families. Over 2200 participants attended the 2010 Training Institutes.

Presentations and handouts from Training Institutes sessions are available to provide strategies and approaches to assist individuals, agencies, or organizations to improve services and supports for children and adolescents with mental health challenges and their families.