A MULTISTAKEHOLDER-DRIVEN MODEL FOR DEVELOPING AN OUTCOME MANAGEMENT-SYSTEM

Increasing demands for accountability in the delivery of public mental health services are engendering organized systems of treatment outcom e monitoring. As such systems are designed and implemented, it is crit ical that key stakeholders be involved to the greatest extent possible in developing assessment instruments and methodologies so as to Ensur e relevance and acceptability of the outcome management system. A mult istakeholder-based initiative for developing standardized our come ass essment for public mental health services in Virginia is described. Ke y components of the initiative include the process by which stakeholde rs were enlisted, the identification of recommended assessment instrum ents, and a pilot project that began the evaluation of the feasibility , utility, and cost-benefit of using the instruments. To illustrate fe atures of this initiative, the child/adolescent mental health pilot pr oject is described in detail. Implications for behavioral health admin istrators and next steps for Virginia's outcome management system are discussed, highlighting the role of key stakeholders.