Assessment of Quality in Consumer-Directed Behavioral Health
Posted by: CQL on 02/01/2007
Filed under: Florida
NAMI of Collier County
“website”: http://www.namidonate.org/default.asp
The Situation
NAMI (the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill), is Collier County’s Voice on Mental Illness. NAMI of Collier County serves families affected by serious and persistent mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (manic depression), depression, anxiety disorders, and the childhood disorders of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, oppositional defiant disorder and Tourette’s syndrome. Programs and services are based on four pillars: education, support, advocacy, and research.
In partnership with the state’s Mental Health agency, NAMI of Collier County launched an initiative to evaluate the quality of services in the region. A key element of the quality assessment was the primary role of consumers, families and their friends in the process.
What CQL Did
CQL applied the Personal Outcome Measures ® in Consumer-Directed Behavioral Health in an interviewer training program for family members and other stakeholders. Once trained, these interviewers met with consumers of mental health services in the district and, through the Personal Outcomes interview process, gathered data about the level of quality in services as seen through the eyes of the consumers.
This quality assessment with Personal Outcome Measures ® was used to set goals and direction for improvements in the delivery of mental health services.
“NAMI Collier was voted Outstanding Affiliate in the country by NAMI National: I am sure POM [Personal Outcome Measures ® ] had something to do with it.”
Kathryn Hunter, Executive Director of NAMI Collier County Florida