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

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

GEORGIA

Grant Information

Name of Grantee: Georgia Department of Human Resources
Title of Grant: Georgia Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in Home and Community Based Services
Type of Grant: Quality Assurance and Quality Improvement in Home and Community Based Services
Amount of Grant: $475,000
Year Original Funding Received: 2003

Contact Information

Patricia M. Clifford, Project Director
2 Peachtree Street, NW, 22.224
Atlanta, GA 30303
404–657–1139
pcliffor@dhr.state.ga.us

Subcontractor(s)

Connie Lyle O'Brien
770–987–9785
connielyleobrien@mac.com

A consultant who specializes in developmental disabilities (DD) performance measurement and quality improvement systems (to be named.)

A consultant to help create an interim system to collect, store, and disseminate DD performance, quality, and outcome information (to be named).

Target Population(s)

Persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

Goals

Promote greater statewide understanding and provision of person-centered practices.
Design enhanced consumer outcomes that are objective and person centered to complement the NCI survey.
Establish an efficient and comprehensive, real-time data system that produces easily accessible information and reports.
Bring meaningful consumer and family participation into the quality improvement (QI) program.

Activities

Conduct two pilot programs (for 20 to 40 consumers) of active learning training and supports to create and implement a Person-Centered Plan (PCP) and provide follow-up support.
Design enhanced consumer outcome measures that are objective and person centered.
Link existing data systems to provide ease of data entry and accessibility of comprehensive provider and consumer information.
Recruit and facilitate the participation of consumers and family advocates in QI committees and work groups.

Abstract

The Department of Human Resources (DHR) is the primary human service agency of Georgia, and the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases (DMHDDAD) is a division of DHR. Two separate home and community based services waiver programs based in DMHDDAD currently serve persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (MR/DD). DMHDDAD is planning to engage in a redesign process for these waivers to encourage services that are person-directed, person-centered, and afford greater flexibility to individuals served and providers.

Although Georgia is raising awareness of self-determination and self-directed services, a gap between knowledge and practice of these principles exists. Many providers have received person-centered training, but lack the skills to develop and implement a person-centered plan. This project will test methods for implementing these principles and provide a provider guide.

Georgia currently maintains four databases, which collect, store, and track various issues that impact people with DD and their services. These systems however, function independently and do not share information, making data entry and review cumbersome and repetitious. The project will link these systems and facilitate access to information.

The state currently uses the Schalock Quality of Life Questionnaire (QOL-Q) and an internally developed individual and family survey to measure the quality of services provided to persons with MR/DD. However, many stakeholders believe that the Schalock QOL-Q may not accurately reflect the degree to which programs promote quality of life for all the people served. This project will enable Georgia to move to a system that measures quality by the achievement of personal outcomes that are important to the individual.

Georgia has long garnered and appreciated the input and participation of individuals served by MHDAD and their families, but has not had a mechanism with which to involve them in the QI process. Through this project, Georgia will promote their ongoing participation, in quality committees and performance improvement teams.