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The table below contains all past CMRL messages (text only, no attachments) from Nov. 20,
1996 - December 12, 2018 and is updated quarterly.
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Subject:RE: A question about measuring clients' problems
Usually, the answer to that question is either “no” or “unknown.” There are multiple potential problems with these types of indices—they may or may not have adequate measurement properties, many of the items reflect services delivered rather than problems measured, and the weighting of the items may or may not reflect a good measurement model.
MC
From: PRITCHARD, ARNIE [mailto:ARNIE.PRITCHARD@ct.gov]
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:13 AM
Subject: A question about measuring clients' problems
Dear Listserv- The Connecticut Department of Children and Families recently implemented a new data collection system for services provided to clients by private providers under contract. In brainstorming about ways to use the data, we came up with the idea of a "problem index", which would be a way of aggregating several date elements into one number to assess the level of problems in a person's life.
For example, the data collection tool asks whether each of the following occurred to each child/youth during his/her participation in behavioral health programs:
1. was arrested
2. was incarcerated or detained
3. was hospitalized for psychiatric or behavioral health reasons
4. was evaluated in an ED for psychiatric or behavioral health reasons
5. had a problem with alcohol or drugs
6. was suspended or expelled from school
One could assign a point for each "yes" answer, and wind up with a scale from zero (none of the problems) to six (all of them). One could go through a similar exercise for the client's experiences before intake.
Our question is, are indices such as this likely to be at all useful, and if so can anyone offer advice on how to construct and use them? References to relevant literature would be welcome.
Thank you for your attention.
Arnold Pritchard
Planning Specialist
CT Department of Children and Families
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-550-6574
Usually, the answer to that question is either “no” or “unknown.” There are multiple potential problems with these types of indices—they may or may not have adequate measurement properties, many of the items reflect services delivered rather than problems measured, and the weighting of the items may or may not reflect a good measurement model.
MC
From: PRITCHARD, ARNIE [mailto:ARNIE.PRITCHARDct.gov]
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 10:13 AM
Subject: A question about measuring clients' problems
Dear Listserv- The Connecticut Department of Children and Families recently implemented a new data collection system for services provided to clients by private providers under contract. In brainstorming about ways to use the data, we came up with the idea of a "problem index", which would be a way of aggregating several date elements into one number to assess the level of problems in a person's life.
For example, the data collection tool asks whether each of the following occurred to each child/youth during his/her participation in behavioral health programs:
1. was arrested
2. was incarcerated or detained
3. was hospitalized for psychiatric or behavioral health reasons
4. was evaluated in an ED for psychiatric or behavioral health reasons
5. had a problem with alcohol or drugs
6. was suspended or expelled from school
One could assign a point for each "yes" answer, and wind up with a scale from zero (none of the problems) to six (all of them). One could go through a similar exercise for the client's experiences before intake.
Our question is, are indices such as this likely to be at all useful, and if so can anyone offer advice on how to construct and use them? References to relevant literature would be welcome.
Thank you for your attention.
Arnold Pritchard
Planning Specialist
CT Department of Children and Families
505 Hudson Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-550-6574
