Systems Change Grants for Community Living Compendium Third Edition California QA/QI 2003

2003 Research and Demonstration Grants — Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in Home and Community Based Services

CALIFORNIA

Grant Information

Name of Grantee: State of California
Title of Grant: Bay Area Quality Enhancement Initiative
Type of Grant: Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in Home and Community Based Services
Amount of Grant: $499,844
Year Original Funding Received: 2003

Contact Information

Renee Kurjiaka
Department of Developmental Services
1600 Ninth Street, Room 340, MS 3–23
Sacramento, CA 95814
916–651–8818
rkurjiak@dds.ca.gov

Subcontractor(s)

Kraig Nagel, M.A., Ed.D.
Project Director
San Andreas Regional Center
300 Orchard City Drive, Suite 170
Campbell, CA 95008
405–341–3497
sakraig@sarc.org

Consultants to be hired.

Target Population(s)

Individuals with developmental disabilities.

Goals

Design a model and corresponding plans to implement a Quality Services Network to provide person-centered and person-directed quality services and supports to people served within the Bay Area.
Adopt a systematic approach to measure consumers' satisfaction with services and supports in meaningful ways at important intervals to guide system improvement efforts.
Apply the "lessons learned" from the project activities to make statewide system reforms.

Activities

Design the necessary structures and processes, and identify the needed resources and supports that will be required to implement a Quality Services Network in the pilot area and implement the plan.
Institute new methods for assessing consumers' and family members' satisfaction with their services and supports.
Design and implement new methods, structures, and processes to strengthen the quality assurance and quality improvement system.

Abstract

The California Department of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS) has various initiatives and efforts underway to address systemic weaknesses identified through a self-assessment that compared the current Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement (QA/QI) system within the context of the HCBS Quality Framework. Through this project, DDS will target specific problem areas in two critical dimensions of home and community based service delivery: provider capacity and capabilities and participant outcomes and satisfaction. DDS will use the San Francisco Bay Area as a pilot area to test new models, methods, and processes and apply the lessons learned to make statewide reforms to the QA/QI system.

The Quality Services Network will be a collaborating consortium involving representatives of three regional centers, a developmental center, consumers and family members, service providers, advocacy organizations, and others. The model for the network will be designed using a quality management approach. Specific implementation plans will be developed to provide a blueprint of the necessary steps and resources needed to successfully launch network operations. Focus areas of the implementation plans include (1) a system for providing training and technical assistance to providers to achieve higher levels of quality in their services and supports, (2) a process for expanding the available network of generic resources and service providers, (3) a network to support consumers' and family members' involvement in decision-making, and (4) identification of the resources and supports needed to support the operations of the Quality Services Network.

DDS will also institute new methods for assessing consumers' and family members' satisfaction with their services and supports to provide all levels of decision-makers with needed information to assess overall performance. Through this project, DDS will define an improved assessment process, including the assessment tool and sample selection methods. DDS will then partner with an organization or entity to conduct the actual assessment of consumer satisfaction.

Evaluation activities will be incorporated throughout the project so that midcourse corrections may be made, as well as decisions concerning application to other regions. At strategic points throughout the project, decision-makers will consider the readiness to make system improvements on a statewide basis.