For Immediate Release: November 24, 2003
Contact: Christopher Burley, Bazelon Center, 202-467-5730
x 133 or leec@bazelon.org
Advocates Call for Better Reporting on J.K. Reforms
(Nov. 24, 2003)—Months after Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano announced
the statewide expansion of the innovative approach to providing mental health
services to children that adopted as part of the historic JK settlement,
advocates are calling on the state to improve “self-reporting” to better
measure the progress that has been made to reform the state’s children’s
mental health system.
In a Sept. 17, 2003 letter to the Arizona Department of Health
Services, the Arizona Disability Law Center called on the state to better
track several key indicators, including:
Indicators of Good Practice
- Children with plans developed according to the Arizona model
- Number of
children reviewed in a case review process, and percentage of such children
judged as being served according to the principles
Indicators of System Infrastructure
- Staffing profile, including the number of full
time
case
managers, direct care workers, family support partners,
clinicians and internal coaches and average
caseloads
- Service profile, including the amount of money spent on administration
vs. services (a figure for each side by side, or a ratio), out-patient
services vs. out-of-home services (a figure for each side
by side, or a ration), therapy vs. other outpatient services (a figure for
each side by side, or a ratio), therapeutic foster care vs. direct care workers
and home and neighborhood-based
respite.
- Out of home care, by intensity level, including the average number of
children for a specific period of time in hospitals, RTC's, ADHS-licensed
group homes (Levels I-III) and therapeutic foster homes.
Outcome Wellness Indicators
Percentage of children living at home (or, alternatively, percentage living
at home or with relatives). "At home" would include adoptive homes.
- Percentage of children with stable placements
- Percentage of children regularly attending school or working.
- Percentage of children without encounters with law enforcement
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The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law is the leading national legal
advocate for people with mental disabilities. Through precedent-setting
litigation and in the public policy arena, the Bazelon Center works to advance
and preserve
the rights of people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities.
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