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Connecticut’s Quality Improvement Collaborative
The Quality Improvement Collaborative (QuIC) is dedicated to the principle that consumer, youth, and family member involvement is a powerful way to make mental health services effective and responsive to their needs.
The QuIC consists of approximately 500 consumers, youth, and family members (CYF) who have contributed to new efforts funded by the Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant to improve Connecticut’s mental health services across the lifespan. A statewide Central Coordinating Council (CCC) of approximately 50 CYF members provided CYF leadership for the project. The QuIC and CCC, through regular involvement of and leadership of CYF, have achieved the following goals:
1. Development of Two Sets of Standards (available in English and Spanish): (a) Year 1 Standards for the Involvement of CYF in Continuous Quality Improvement activities at the self, provider, and state agency levels, and (b) Year 2 Standards for Quality Mental Health Services from CYF perspectives
2. Development and Adaptation of Surveys Aligned with Standards (available in English and Spanish): CYF (a) developed a survey to align with the Year 1 Standards for CYF Involvement and conducted a pilot test of the survey (report available) and (b) adapted an existing survey to align with the Year 2 Standards for Quality and currently conducting a pilot test of the survey
3. Building Partnerships with providers across the stateby performing outreach to DCF and DMHAS funded providers to conduct surveys within their agencies and to build ongoing commitments to work together with CYF for Continuous Quality Improvement
4. Plan for Sustainability of QuIC Standards and CYF in Continuous Quality Improvement:
- Development of and dissemination of materials including Standards, History of the Standards, a Quality Improvement 101 Brochure, report on survey results, and lessons learned through implementing QuIC, including viable means of sustaining such functions
- Use and disseminate findings generated by the quality surveys to give helpful feedback to providers from the perspectives of CYF
- Build partnerships with local providers, Grant Partners, advocacy organizations, and state agencies to continue to work together in support of continuously improving the quality of Connecticut’s mental health system— a mutual goal that CYF share with providers, other key organizations, and state agencies
The project was funded by a grant to North Central Regional Mental Health Board and its Partners
from the Connecticut Mental Health Transformation State Incentive Grant.
