Accreditation of Thomas S. Services
Posted by: CQL on 12/29/2006
Filed under: North Carolina
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of MH/DD/SAS
The Situation
The Thomas S. v. Britt class action lawsuit originated in 1982 as a result of a complaint filed against the North Carolina Department of Human Services. The U.S. District Court later certified a statewide class of adults with intellectual disability who had been inappropriately placed in state psychiatric hospitals in conditions which violated their constitutional rights. A number of subsequent court orders established the expectations for treatment, services and independent evaluation.
In 1994, the federal court approved an agreement by all parties that shifted the oversight and monitoring role to the Department of Human Services. The Department contracted with CQL to provide that monitoring by conducting accreditation reviews of the 41 area Thomas S. case management/service coordination programs in the state.
What CQL Did
Over a period of four years, CQL conducted accreditation reviews of the 41 Thomas S. case management programs in the state. Reports were completed for each organization. CQL staff also met with state representatives to review overall findings and recommendations for improvements to the entire service system. In 1996, the statewide Thomas S. branch office was awarded CQL Accreditation, in addition to the area programs.
Data from Personal Outcomes interviews of Thomas S. class members were analyzed and compared to CQL’s national database.