A client outcome study of a community support demonstration project.

Abstract

This article reports on a client outcome study of a community support demonstration project in a ruralOregon county. Chronically mentally ill clients were provided with a range of community support services over a nine-month period. Clients were given a structured interview on their perceived quality of life shortly after admission to the program and again several months later. Case managers also recorded activities and living situations each day for each client. Results suggest that clients perceived that their basic needs were met as a result of the program. Clients also progressively engaged in more productive activities and maintained independent living situations throughout the nine months of treatment.

Research on community support services: What have we learned.

“…Recent examples of this approach include the “core service agency” or “lead agency” concept, as well as various case management models that designate specific pools of “high risk” or “high demand” clients. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of case management teams that assume responsibility for providing or coordinating all needed services for a specific group of clients (Bond, Miller, Krumwied, & Ward, 1988; Bond, Witheridge, Dincin, Wasmer, Webb, & De Graaf-Kaser, 1988; Brekke & Test, 1987; Field & Yegge, 1982; Test, Knoedler, & Allness, 1985). These studies suggest that assignment of responsibility for specific clients can reduce dropout rates, lead to allocation of more time to more disabled clients, reduce hospitalization, and increase employment and social activity.…”

A client outcome evaluation of the statewide implementation of community support services.

“…It is also essential that clients be assured a high-quality community life. Selective studies (Bigelow, 1981;Field & Yegge, 1982) and site reviews from the CSU population indicate that a broad range of community quality of life indicators are also improving when clients receive community support services.…”

Qualité de vie et qualité des services

“…Les domaines où l'impact des programmes est le plus évident sont ceux reliés au lieu de résidence, aux besoins de base, aux relations interpersonnelles, au bien-être psychologique et à l'emploi du temps. Par contre, il est plus rare que l'on observe un changement significatif par rapport à l'emploi ou aux études et aux revenus (Baker et al, 1992;Bigelow et Young, 1991b;Field et Yegge, 1982;Franklin et al, 1987;Goering et al, 1988;Mercier et al, 1992;Wright et al, 1989).…”

“…Certaines études les plus récentes sur l'évaluation de programmes de case management vont par ailleurs conclure qu'il n'existe pas de liens évidents entre le fait de recevoir des services et la perception de la qualité de la vie dans un domaine particulier ou en général (Bond et al, 1988;Cutler et al, 1987;Field et al, 1982;Franklin et al, 1987;Hachey et Mercier, 1993;Huxley et al, 1992). Cette absence d'impact est parfois expliquée par le fait que ces services de case management ont été implantés dans des milieux déjà bien pourvus de services ou qu'ils sont offerts à des personnes déjà bien desservies.…”