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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. We have conducted 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 executive vice president. 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
- Milestones of Recovery Scale
This is a tool to help individuals and their service providers measure where individuals are in their process of recovery – from when individuals need an intensive level of support to when individuals have achieved an advanced level of recovery and are no longer part of a system of care. It has generated interest by many California counties. In Los Angeles, the Mental Health Department is training all of its clinics in the scale and is using it as it a primary tool for assessing clients’ appropriate level of care. We invite you to read our Executive Summary.
- AB 34 Outcomes Study
From 2000 to this year, we coordinated evaluation to document the effectiveness of AB 2034 projects, which were 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 worked with 55 projects in 34 California counties, which serve almost 5,000 people. We measured reductions in homelessness, psychiatric hospitalization and incarceration and increases in independent living and employment. We produced 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 measured 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 tracked quality of life and functioning outcomes for more than 1,600 individuals. For several years, this was 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:
Kate Mackenney
Training Business Coordinator
Training and Workforce Development
100 w. Broadway, Suite 5010
Long Beach, CA 90802
562-285-1330, ext. 244
dpilon@mhala.org
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