Linking Systems of Care

The Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Demonstration Project (LSC) was a demonstration project designed to support and document the work of statewide initiatives as they promoted healing for victims of crime by developing and coordinating trauma-informed prevention and intervention services for these children and youth and their families.

Four states—Illinois, Montana, Ohio, and Virginia—were selected in a competitive process to participate in planning and implementing reforms. Demonstration projects were intentionally designed to document the work of pioneering communities, which are supported by funding and national experts.

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What was the Linking Systems of Care Project?

Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Demonstration Project (LSC) did not propose a single approach! States were funded to identify young victims of crime proactively and work holistically with their families and communities to address their needs. Each state approached their work differently, unified by the LSC Guiding Principles and a “No Wrong Door” approach to victim services.

Who was involved in this work?

The four demonstration sites worked in their states to meet the needs of children and youth (and their caregivers) who had been exposed to violence. The LSC work was guided, supported, and documented by the project’s federal partners and national experts.

What Did They Learn?

The LSC sites, Montana, Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, benefited from rigorous project planning, national expertise, peer-to-peer learning, and trial and error. Unified by their adherence to the values and principles set forth in the Guiding Principles, each state’s partners, needs, and approach to victim services and linking systems were unique. The LSC Coordinator Toolkit provides guidance and tools for jurisdictions interested in replicating LSC activities. The LSC Lessons Learned Report narrates a story of how events unfolded.

Guiding Principles

The Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth Guiding Principles were developed by national experts in wide-ranging, relevant fields and are offered as a touchstone for leaders initiating and/or guiding new approaches to serving child and youth victims of crime. Guiding Principles can guide values discussions with stakeholders, structure community needs assessments, and assist community collaboratives shape, inform, and review services and referrals to address children and youth exposed to violence.

View the Guiding Principles