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…assisting agencies, advancing
systems change
Introduction
Through our outcomes studies, MHA assists mental health programs
in evaluating their effectiveness and advances systems change toward
recovery-based services that help people with mental illness integrate
into the community. In our current projects, we are conducting analyses
for the state of California and county of Los Angeles.
MHA specializes in “quality of life” outcomes studies,
which measure living, work, education, finance and social goals.
These areas are those that often form the core of an individual’s
participation in community life. They reflect areas that are important
to people with mental illness and their families.
We use the Integrated Services Outcomes System designed by our
research director. This computerized system focuses on the collection,
analysis and reporting of real-time data. We measure employment,
education, financial, legal, conservatorship and payee areas. Annual
evaluations are conducted in areas of psychiatric symptom distress,
substance abuse, level of functioning and level of social support.
We have used this system to measure effectiveness at our own MHA
Village since 1996.
Studies
- AB 34 Outcomes Study
We coordinate evaluation to document
the effectiveness of AB 34 projects, which are funded by California
legislation to provide comprehensive care to people with mental
illness who are homeless, being released from jail or at serious
risk of homelessness or jail. At the request of the state’s
Department of Mental Health, we work with 55 projects in 34 California
counties, which serve almost 5,000 people. We measure reductions
in homelessness, psychiatric hospitalization and incarceration
and increases in independent living and employment. We produce
a “quality of life” outcomes report card for our state’s
mental health system leaders and policy makers.
- Integrated Services/ACT Outcomes
Study
The study measures results of 14 programs
that use the integrated services – a system of comprehensive
service and support – or ACT (assertive community treatment)
models in Los Angeles County. Conducted on behalf of the county
Mental Health Department, we track quality of life and functioning
outcomes for more than 1,600 individuals. Now in its seventh year,
it is the county’s only long-term longitudinal study that
focuses on quality of life results for people with serious mental
illness.
Honors
MHA’s outcomes work has attracted national and state recognition. Our director was named 2004 researcher of the year by the United States Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. In our state, he was honored by the California Mental Health Directors Association. The Governor’s 2004-2005 Budget Summary noted that the outcomes of the AB 34 programs “have shown that this program leads to significant savings at the local level.”
Contact Us
To learn more about these studies or to talk with us about a new
research project, please contact:
Dave Pilon, Ph.D., C.P.R.P.
Director, MHA Outcomes and Research
320 Pine Ave., Suite 601
Long Beach, CA 90802
888-242-2522, ext. 249
dpilon@mhala.org
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