Guo, S., Biegel. D.E., Johnsen, J.A., & Dyches, H. (2001). Assessing the impact of community-based mobile crisis services on preventing hospitalization. Psychiatric Services, 52, 223-228.

This pioneering study was the first empirical demonstration that mobile, community-based crisis intervention services led to a reduction in psychiatric hospitalization, both at private and public hospitals.

The Mobile Crisis Team of MHS was the source of data about community-based services. The reduction in hospitalization was substantial, and did not result in increased rates of subsequent hospitalization. The rigourous study design and large data set addressed shortcomings of prior studies.

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Dyches, H., Biegel, D.E., Johnsen, J.A., Guo, S., & Min, M.O. (2002). The impact of mobile crisis services on the use of community-based mental health services. Research on Social Work Practice, 12 (6), 731-751.

Linking clients to ongoing care, after resolution of a crisis, can help them manage emotional responses, learn new behaviors, and avoid future crises. This study compared the linkage of 1,187 clients who participated in crisis services from the MCT, with a matched group of 1,187 clients who participated in crisis services from a psychiatric emergency room, before implementation of the MCT.

Clients served by MCT were 17% more likely to participate in follow-up services. MCT clients who were new to the community mental health system were 48% more likely to participate in follow-up services.

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Drotar, D., Flannery, D., Day, E., Friedman, S., Creeden, R., Gartland, H., McDavid, L., Tame, C., & McTaggart, M.J. (2003). Identifying and responding to the mental health service needs of children who have experienced violence: A community-based approach. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 8 (2), 187-204.

This study was the first "comprehensive description of the impact of recent violence and mental health service needs of children based on child and parent reports using standardized measures gathered at the time of the incident of violence" (p. 189).

Steven M. Friedman, Ph.D., Executive Director of MHS, and Program Manager Rosemary Creeden were among the article's authors. The article describes MHS services for 1,739 children who were referred to the Children Who Witness Violence program.

MHS began face-to-face services with 68% of families within two hours of the referral by police officers. The majority of children referred to the program participated. Study authors concluded that the project demonstrated "the feasibility of ... services ... at a critical time following violence exposure" (p. 187).

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Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence. (16 October 2002). Children who witness violence program: Year 2 full report. Unpublished manuscript, Kent (Ohio) State University.

The Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence (ISPV) of Kent State University conducted statistical analyses of data for 3,261 children (from 2,738 families) who were referred to MHS by police officers in participating communities from March 1999 to July 2001. The data showed that MHS made an average of 5 completed service visits for each family. Average total number of phone and face-to-face contacts for each family was 14.

Children who completed services felt less anxious and depressed, and parents reported that their children were less withdrawn and restless. Study results need to be interpreted with caution, since there was no control group of untreated children.

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MHS uses outcome data of its homeless assistance programs to help clients define and achieve important goals, and to improve the quality and efficiency of care and services. Outcomes for programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development include helping clients to achieve (1) permanent or transitional housing; (2) increased income and/or skills, and (3) greater self-determination.

Data show that clients of MHS homeless assistance programs achieve housing, income, and successful management of their health. All homeless assistance programs submit quarterly outcome reports to the Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services (OHS).

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The performance of MHS in the collection of ODMH outcome data improved from 71.8% in the 2006 fiscal year, to 77% in the 2007 fiscal year, to 94% in the 2007 calendar year. In all these periods, the performance of MHS was considerably above both county and state averages.  To further improve our performance, Program Managers of MHS homeless assistance services now receive weekly reports identifying individuals for whom outcome assessments are due.

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