What? Another form? The process of measuring and comparing service utilization in a community mental health program model

Although Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is one of the most widely stud ied of all community mental health treatment models, the process through wh ich it produces outcomes is often treated as a 'black box'. There is limite d understanding of the model's essential elements and studies seldom descri be program implementation, As a result, though localities may be interested in developing an ACT team, information necessary for implementation of the model (e.g. costing, cost-effectiveness, ACT service utilization) is inade quate to help plan services. Part of this gap in the literature can be attr ibuted to the fact that the vital pieces of information needed to produce t he much needed estimates are generally the most arduous to gather; they req uire daily recording of activities and hence, the participation of already overburdened program staff. The purpose of this paper is to describe our ex periences in developing a multi-program economic evaluation and costing stu dy of ACT. In discussing the process that we followed, we hope to pass on u seful information that will help produce effective and efficient mental hea lth evaluations in the future. Our project offers an example of how the wor lds of research and service delivery can collaborate to come to symbiotic r esolutions. Together, we have been able to collect data that is not only va luable for program evaluation but beneficial for administrative purposes to define priority areas, staffing and service planning. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.