LOUISIANA Community Mental Health Services Block Grant ...

SED/ EBD is a national designation that includes only those individuals suffering from the most
severe forms of behavioral disorders. As reflected with the adult figures above, those who have any
type of behavioral problem would increase the population figures, but not the numbers of individuals
served, as our facilities are designated to serve those individuals with SED/ EBD.
Information with which to effectively plan and distribute resources is collected in numerous ways in
OBH. Database upgrades that will combine information currently found in existing, separate
databases into one efficient and comprehensive system is ongoing. With progressive implementation
of the Office of Mental Health Integrated Information System (OMH-IIS) legacy systems are being
phased out in favor of one, comprehensive, integrated web-based information system.
There also exist program specific data systems that are supported by OBH. These include the CRIS
data system for the Child and Adolescent Response Team (CART), the ECSS-MIS web-based system
for the Early Childhood Supports and Services (ECSS), the RiteTrack (proprietary) information
system supporting the Louisiana Youth Enhancement Services (LaYES) in New Orleans, and data
system supporting the Louisiana Spirit Crisis Program. In each case, these specialized service
programs have unique database needs that have been established by either building a suitable
database “in-house” or in the case of LaYES, purchasing a compatible commercial data management
system. In each of these cases, efforts have been made to make sure that whatever system is being
used, the structure and data formats are compatible with OMH-IIS such that key clinical information
can be uploaded to OMH-IIS which is the primary repository of this information for OBH.
DHH is continuing to merge and to consolidate information technology within the department and to
establish a participatory governance structure for managing, allocating, and supporting information
collection, analysis, and use. DHH has established an executive Governance Board, a Project
Management and Resource Allocation Committee, a Customer Relations Manager Committee, a
Health Information Exchange Committee, and Information Management Committee. DHH is also
establishing use of Microsoft SharePoint as a web-based communication and team collaboration tool
to share information and facilitate the activities of workgroups. DHH is also establishing use of
Microsoft Performance Point, a component of SharePoint, to enhance the agencies analytical and
reporting capacity. Performance Point provides dashboards, score cards, key performance indicator
reports, and other features. Whereas DHH continues to advance the availability and access to
contemporary information technology, the human resources to utilize this technology still lags far
behind and continue to be constrained by the budget deficit and hiring freezes. Many basic functions
must be carried out through contracted resources which while needed and beneficial provides limited
capacity building for the agency.
The variety and extent of data collected provides rich and unique opportunities for objectively
evaluating and improving the mental health care system in Louisiana. The C‟est Bon and LaFete
Surveys are the consumer-to-consumer methodology developed by Louisiana for collecting
information to measure access, quality and outcome indicators
The “C‟est Bon” adult consumer survey has resulted in interviews of over one thousand consumers
during FY10 and has repeatedly been a rich source of information regarding needs from a consumer
and family perspective. Called “La Fete”, a comparable survey from parents and families of children
with emotional/behavioral disorders was initiated in 2002 and continues. Since 2007, the state has
been using the standard MHSIP survey for adults and the standard YSS and YSS-F surveys for youth
and families respectively. A further enhancement to the state's consumer survey process was made to
PART C LOUISIANA FY 2011 PAGE 77
SECTION II: ADULT & CHILD/ YOUTH
IDENTIFICATION & ANALYSIS OF SERVICE SYSTEM’S STRENGTHS, NEEDS, & PRIORITIES
UNMET SERVICE NEEDS & PLANS TO ADDRESS UNMET NEEDS