Measuring Social Impact
The outcome reports developed by the Research, Evaluation and Quality Improvement (RE&QI) department follow program specific logic models that inform the flow of inputs, activities, and outputs to achieve the immediate, intermediate and long-term outcomes. The outcomes tracked align with the Re-Education principles and are consistent with SAMHSA’s Key Outcomes for Children and Families in Systems of Care, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Child Welfare Monitoring and Child and Family Services Reviews as follows:
- Safety from abuse and harm
- Well-being marked by improvements in behavior, functioning and academic improvement
- Permanency/Stability marked by successful discharges and successful living environments at discharge using the Restrictiveness of Living Environment Scale (ROLES).
All clinical outcomes and satisfaction survey data are collected using standardized measurement instruments that have been tested and validated for their reliability.
Below are examples of the types of reports produced by the Research, Evaluation and Quality Improvement (RE&QI) department:
- Follow-up Report
- Annual Outcomes Reports
Research Projects: Past & Present
Below are examples of the research projects at Pressley Ridge. Some of the projects have been funded through grants obtained by the Research, Evaluation and Quality Improvement (RE&QI) department.
Current Projects
Project Title
Project Goals
Therapeutic Alliance Project in a TFC Setting
This pilot project has the goal of creating a culture of feedback in the program by integrating formal youth feedback, assessing and adjusting the fit between the youth and foster parent for maximum effect, and to use the youth’s voice in the delivery of services. The second part of the project is to determine if there is a relationship between foster parent characteristics and their effectiveness in engaging youth in a working alliance.
Working Alliance between T/C and Youth in an Education Setting
Create a culture of feedback by integrating formal youth feedback by having Pittsburgh Day School students rate their Teacher/Counselors using the Working Alliance Inventory. Determine if there is a relationship between staff characteristics and their effectiveness in engaging youth in a working alliance by utilizing the Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF). Strengthen training and supervision to improve Therapeutic Alliance across the organization’s programs. One of the goals of this project is to determine if there is any relationship between TA ratings and display of aggression with youth, the use of restraints, and attendance rates for staff and youth.
Replication of Pressley Ridge Treatment Foster Care Pre-service Training with Easter Seals/UCP
The purpose of the evaluation is to determine the effectiveness of the PR-TFC pre-service training on treatment foster parents’ ability to provide therapeutic foster parenting. Specifically, the evaluation is to assess whether the PR-TFC training is more effective than training as usual in improving foster parent’s willingness to foster youth with behavioral difficulties, improving their knowledge and skill level in managing behavioral difficulties of children who are in their care, and satisfaction with providing foster care services.
Effectiveness of Engagement Interviews and Consolidated Scheduling in Community Mental Health Clinics
Increase accessibility to services, attendance rates for appointments, staff productivity, and revenue for Outpatient Mental Health clinics by utilizing therapeutic engagement interviews, consolidated assessment times, and running groups for prevalent clinical diagnoses.
Completed Projects
Project Title
Completion Date
Project Goals
Project Accomplishments
Participatory Action Evaluation of Older Adult Outcomes
2010
Focused on involving older adult stakeholders in providing feedback about outcomes and adult-centered measurements via focus groups
Qualitative data was analyzed and emerging themes were shared with staff to better understand what older adults thought were meaningful outcomes and the best measurements to collect the information.
Quality Improvement Enhancement
Participatory Action Evaluation conducted with stakeholders on outcome reporting.
2009
Involving stakeholders in outcome reporting via focus groups at various program sites.
Brochures were created to inform stakeholders about outcomes achieved by clients in each program.
Youth Therapeutic Alliance in Intensive Treatment Settings
Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research Vol. 31 (2) pg. 134-148
2004
The study examined the Therapeutic Alliance that develops between teacher/counselors and children in 2 settings: a partial hospital/day school and a wilderness camp.
An important finding in the study was the lack of relationship between the teacher/counselor’s view of TA and the youth’s view. Moreover, this correlation does not improve according to how long the counselors have known or have treated the youth.
Future Directions
As new issues and developments in the mental health and human services field arise, the RE & QI department seeks out ways to identify opportunities for research activities to contribute to the field of research knowledge. The RE&QI Director chairs Pressley Ridge’s Research Committee which approves and monitors projects from surrounding universities who wish to collaborate with Pressley Ridge. To submit an inquiry to the Research Committee, please e-mail ResearchandEvaluation@pressleyridge.org.
Start of Dare to Care For Kids in Care