Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #120943

Javaid Kaiser, PhD, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857, (240) 276-1250, javaid.kaiser@samhsa.hhs.gov

Performance management for substance abuse treatment and prevention can provide desperately needed improvements in access, capacity, service quality, client satisfaction, and objective outcomes. SAMHSA has embarked on a multi-pronged strategy to build infrastructure and processes for performance management in all States and jurisdictions, starting with the new National Outcome Measures (NOMs) system.

Under NOMs, core measures are being identified for all grant programs in SAMHSA, to be reflected in SAMHSA budgets, policies, programs, resources, and outcomes. In partnership with State substance abuse (and mental health) directors, consensus has been reached on ten comprehensive outcome domains to be measured and tracked in NOMs. Specific measures are being defined and standardized through cooperative efforts involving Federal and State officials, practitioners, methodologists, and researchers. Additional activities focus on State and provider-level data reports, opportunities for addressing accountability and program effectiveness, and strategic quantitative studies to facilitate performance management and advance treatment and prevention of substance abuse.

Implementation of NOMs and development of timely and flexible State data-handling and reporting capacity will tremendously support data-based performance management. However, new data measures and data-handling capabilities require improved and expanded data infrastructure for many States. In recognition of these needs, all SAMHSA programs for investment in State data infrastructure, technical assistance for improving State information systems, and for concomitant staff training will be coordinated across Centers.

The presentation will include descriptions of the consultative process, core measurement domains, technical assistance processes and resources, the latest NOMs, and planned future activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will be able to describe the NOMs initiative, the outcome measure domains and the technical assistance opportunities.

Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment, Outcome Measures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.