Arrow Leader Accepts Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Invitation to serve on High Acuity Youth Panel

The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently selected Arrow Child and Family Ministries’ Senior Vice President of Maryland Programs Jennifer McGlothlin-Renault to serve as one of four providers nationwide on a panel at the High Acuity Youth Roundtable in Washington, D.C. 

Convened by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the June 4 event brought together national leaders to address the needs of youth with complex behavioral health and child welfare challenges.  

The roundtable provided a critical platform for national decision makers to discuss systemic improvements and highlight community-based interventions. McGlothlin-Renault’s involvement validates Arrow’s position as an industry leader in care. 

“Arrow is committed to working in partnership with state agencies to find innovative ways to meet the needs of youth and families in our communities,” McGlothlin-Renault said. “Through Annie E. Casey Foundation’s invitation, I helped highlight community-based children’s behavioral health services that can reduce the use of congregate care in child welfare.” 

Participating allowed McGlothlin-Renault to share the work Arrow has done to increase community-based services through its evidence-based practice, Family Centered Treatment, and emphasize the role providers can and should play in building strong systems of care with an audience of state level child welfare and Medicaid leaders.  

“There were a lot of decision makers in that audience and our panel was able to share real stories of what is working in our communities of care,” McGlothlin-Renault said. 

A primary focus of the discussion was the necessity of shifting the care paradigm from treating youth in isolation to supporting the entire family structure.  

In advocating for the young people Arrow serves, McGlothlin-Renault emphasized that addressing the root causes of trauma and behavioral instability requires an immersive, home-based approach. Arrow’s Family Centered Treatment (FCT) model addresses the root causes of behavioral instability by working directly with the entire household. 

“A child does not exist as a distinct individual outside of their family system; I think most of us understand this in theory, but our systems are not built with this as a core belief,” McGlothlin-Renault said. “A child’s behaviors, emotional responses, their sense of safety and identity is all shaped by and lived out within the context of their family.” 

The national invitation highlights the ongoing strength of the organization’s collaborative relationship with state agencies, which includes restructuring care models and expanding local capacity to better serve vulnerable populations. 

“Any opportunity I have to speak on behalf of the youth and families we serve, and advocate for services that help them become thriving members of their community, is a blessing,” McGlothlin-Renault said. “Through Arrow’s commitment to providing services that exceed expectations, we have become a trusted voice in conversations. When an opportunity like this becomes available, I am humbled to impact change at the national level.”

By aligning its internal outcome measures with national and state objectives, Arrow Child & Family Ministries continues to advocate for the widespread adoption of treatments that yield documented success for high-acuity youth. 

This incredible recognition is a testament to the dedication of our teams and Arrow’s unwavering commitment to ensuring every child and family has access to the stability, support and hope they deserve.

We are deeply grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for recognizing Arrow’s leadership in this space and for creating opportunities to influence meaningful change.