Evaluation Findings - SAMHSA Store - Substance Abuse and Mental ...

Organizational characteristics, such as
whether training activities were offered
or an evaluation of culturally competent
practices was conducted, were
considered to be most important in
determining whether providers were
culturally competent.
Service Providers Were Rated Highly
for Culturally Competent Practices
Caregiver ratings of service providers
within systems of care indicated frequent
use of culturally competent practices in
service delivery.
In all communities (Culturally Competent
Service Provision Survey):
Caregivers rated the frequency of their
providers’ culturally competent practices
high from 6 months after entering
services to 24 months. Average ratings
exceeded 4.5 on a 5-point scale.
The provider’s cultural background did
not influence ratings with respect to the
importance of understanding the
family’s culture or the frequency of
culturally competent practices.
How Are Flexible Funds Used
Within Systems of Care
Flexible Funds Were Used to Fill
Service Gaps
Flexible funds were used by systems of care
to finance services and supports that were
not covered by other funding sources.
Flexible Funds Provided Families
with Essential Needs and Supports
Basic needs and supports for
children/youth and their families, as well
as some clinical treatments, were fulfilled
by using flexible funds within systems of
care.
In four communities funded in 1999
(Management Information System data):
Flexible funds were used to fulfill many
of the families’ basic needs such as
housing support, transportation, food,
and childcare. Systems of care also used
flexible funds to pay for some traditional
mental health and substance abuse
treatment services that were not covered
by other sources, e.g., assessment and
evaluation, therapeutic camps, afterschool
services, medical care, and
educational support such as tutoring.
What Are the Cost Savings and
Economic Benefits of Systems
of Care
Cost Savings Were Achieved by
Decreasing Inpatient Hospitalizations
and Arrests
Cost savings were achieved by decreasing
the utilization of inpatient services and by
offsetting costs in other systems, for
example by decreasing arrests, for youth
receiving services within system of care.
In all communities (Delinquency Survey):
In four communities funded in 1999
(Management Information System Data):
Flexible funds were used to pay for
services and supports needed by the
child/youth and family to improve
functioning that were not covered by
other funding sources.
Cost savings were realized due to
decreases in the number of arrests
(savings estimated at $913 per child
served) over the 24-month period.
In communities initially funded in 2002–
2006 (Living Situation Questionnaire):
Cost savings were realized due to
decreased inpatient hospitalization, with
The Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families Program Evaluation Findings
2006–2008 Annual Report to Congress ● Page 31