Evaluation of Adolescent Mental Health Services in a Rural County: A Collaborative Community & Academic Partnership

This presentation will discusses a community-university project to evaluate youth and parental satisfaction of youth services provided in a rural county in northeastern PA. The Integrated Children's Services Planning Leadership Team requested assistance from the university. A faculty led research team consisting of three doctoral students participated in a literature review, the selection of a reliable and valid survey, and with data input and analysis. Two surveys (Youth Services Survey (YSS) and Youth Services Survey for Families (YSS-F) were selected and presented to the Leadership Team for their approval. Six agencies distributed and collected the anonymous surveys to adolescents and their parents or guardians who sought services from the agencies. The surveys were completed by the participants and placed in a sealed envelope in a secure box at the agency for transport to the university. All surveys (n=209, 105 = adolescents, 104 = parent/guardians) were entered into an SPSS 18. Data will be presented on the demographic variables of both the adolescents and their parents/guardians. Similarities and differences of adolescents and parents/guardians will be presented on perceptions of satisfaction of services, child's ability to handle daily life, ability to choose services, involvement of staff, accessibility of services, and involvement of treatment. This study provided valuable information to assist the agencies to: identify gaps in services and to assess satisfaction with current services. Community agencies plan to use findings to guide decision making and allocation of resources to this vulnerable population in the future.