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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Steven Huz, PhD1, Chip Felton, MSW2, Linda Rosenberg, CSW3, Sharon E. Carpinello, RN, PhD4, Glenn Liebman, MPA5, Blair Maddy, MPA1, Kevin P. Delaney, MPH6, and Jeffrey Kirk, MA1. (1) Center for Performance, Evaluation and Outcomes Management, New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12229, 518-473-9559, coevsjh@omh.state.ny.us, (2) Center for Performance, Evaluation and Outcome Management, New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12229, (3) Division of Community Care Systems Management, New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12229, (4) Executive Deputy Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave., 8th Fl, Albany, NY 12229, (5) New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12229, (6) CPEOM, New York State Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Ave, Albany, NY 12229
In August 1999, the New York State Legislature enacted an involuntary outpatient commitment statute known as Kendra’s Law. The law established criteria for identification of individuals who could be considered for court-ordered treatment. It required that each county create and administer an involuntary outpatient treatment program and placed responsibility for statewide implementation of this initiative with the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH). The program developed by the agency to respond to this legislative mandate, Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), became the vehicle for implementing the mandates of the statute and began operation in November, 1999.
The NYSOMH continues to assess the impact of AOT on local mental health systems and on recipients through ongoing quantitative and qualitative evaluation strategies. Findings from the quantitative longitudinal study show improvements by recipients on measures of service engagement, adherence to medication, functioning, and high risk symptomatology. The qualitative study showed evidence of systemic structural changes to local mental health systems and identified agreement by all stakeholders on improved access to services for high need/high risk individuals.
This presentation features an update on findings from evaluative activities associated with Kendra’s Law. In addition, the presentation will describe how findings are used by the NYSOMH to promote improvements in the quality of service delivery for individuals served by AOT and to support decisions linked to agency system change initiatives.
Learning Objectives: By Attending this presentation participants will be able to
Keywords: Mental Health Services, Mental Health System
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.