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Program Outcomes
Washburn Center for Children uses several methods
to review how effective services are, how satisfied clients are,
how easily clients could access services and how much each client
improves. Parents, teachers, children and clinicians are involved
in evaluating services. All clients are asked to complete a satisfaction
survey to describe their experience at Washburn. Information about
the impact of services is also tracked. In the Home Front program
for example, 96 percent of clients avoided out-of-home placement
in 2003; all children in this program have serious emotional and
behavioral difficulties which place them at risk for being placed
out of their home. Parents also review goals and progress with their
clinician and rate progress on their child’s individual treatment
plan goals.
The agency consults with experts in the field
to improve evaluation practices. Washburn supervisors have worked
closely with consultants from the Wilder Research Center to analyze
program outcomes data and to improve data collection practices and
systems. For example, the Day Treatment team has worked closely
with Dr. Trisha Beuhring from the University of Minnesota to complete
a comprehensive outcomes analysis and evaluation plan.
The first year of an intensive outcomes analysis
and evaluation plan has been completed. This project, funded by
the Bush Foundation, has involved close collaboration between Washburn
day treatment staff, Dr. Anne Gearity, Clinical Consultant, and
Dr. Trisha Buehring from the University of Minnesota Institute on
Community Integration. The purpose is to complete and implement
a long-term evaluation plan, to evaluate program effectiveness and
to create a training manual and program.
A variety of standardized outcomes instruments
such as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Behavioral Assessment
Scale for Children (BASC) are also used to look at each individual
child’s progress and functioning as well as the overall effectiveness
of each program.
In 2004 the agency completed a new agency-wide
integrated client outcomes and demographics database. This database
will hold important client demographic information such as ethnicity,
gender, age, services received and living situation. It will integrate
this information with outcome data for all of Washburn’s programs,
which include standardized instruments, satisfaction surveys and
other descriptive information.
Highlights of recent program outcomes include:
- 96% of children served through the Home Front
Program avoided out of home placement.
- 87% of elementary age children who participated
in Day Treatment were able to successfully complete the program
and return to their regular community school setting full time.
- 94% of families reported improvement on issues
that brought them to the Outpatient Program.
- 85% of families enrolled in the Family Focus
Program demonstrated improved ability to nurture and care for
their children.
- 90% of Crisis Stabilization clients were successfully
stabilized in the community, avoiding hospitalization and other
out-of-home placement.
- 93% of parents would recommend Washburn
to a friend in need of similar help.
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