• Access to Somatic Care
    This outcome is measured as the percentage of individuals having documentation supporting involvement with a physician. Each individual’s file has a value of one point with a point deducted for lack of supporting documentation being present in the participant file. Someone is linked to somatic care if the person has had an annual physical, if any issues identified in the physical exam needing follow-up are treated, if ongoing or routine care is required, or if the individual sees a doctor for a physical illness.
     
  • Adult Education
    The outcome is measured by the percentage of employable individuals involved in training or education during the fiscal year. A recognized training program is a program that requires multiple (3 or more) classes in one area to receive a certificate to secure, maintain, or advance the individual’s employment opportunities.
    • Recognized Training Program
      A recognized training program is a program that requires multiple (3 or more) classes in one area to receive a certificate to secure, maintain, or advance the individual’s employment opportunities.
  • Community Housing
    To meet the outcome, individuals must meet all four criteria: safe, affordable, accessible and acceptable.
    • Safe Housing
      A living environment meets safety expectations if all of the following are met [or if an intervention is addressed in the individual's plan/action to resolve the situation has been taken]: (a) the living environment is free of any kind of abuse (emotional, physical, verbal, sexual, and domestic violence) and neglect, (b) the living environment has safety equipment (smoke detectors or fire extinguishers), (c) the living environment is kept free of health risks, (d) there is no evidence of illegal activity (selling/using drugs, prostitution) in the individual's own apartment or living environment, and (e) the individual knows what to do in case of an emergency (fire, illness, injury, severe weather) [or has 24-hour support/equivalent]. All living situations with abuse are considered unsafe, even if a plan is in place.
       
    • Affordable Housing
      A living environment meets affordability expectations if no more than 40% of the individual’s income is spent on housing (i.e., cost of rent and utilities), or if they receive a rent subsidy. PCHS has set this criterion at 40% of income to be consistent with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) requirements. Income sources include Employment Wages, Public Assistance, Social Security, SSI, SSDI, VA Benefits, Railroad Pension, Child Support, and Dividends.
       
    • Accessible Housing
      A living environment meets accessibility expectations [or has 24-hour equivalent] if the living environment allows for freedom of movement, supports communication (i.e. TDD if needed), and supports community involvement (i.e. being able to reach job and frequently accessed community locations without use of paratransit or cabs).
       
    • Acceptable Housing
      A living environment meets acceptability expectations if the individual (rather than guardian) chooses where to live and with whom.  Individuals under age 18 are exempt.  There may be a number of parameters (i.e. past decisions, earned income) which may limit individuals' choices, but the environment should be acceptable at the point in time when choices are presented.  Individuals with guardians should  participate and give input into their living environment to the greatest extent possible.
  • Community Inclusion
    Community inclusion activities are grouped into three main categories: spiritual, civic (local politics & volunteerism), and cultural (community events, clubs, and classes). An activity meets the definition if it is 1) community-based and not sponsored by a provider agency,  2) the activity is person-directed, and 3) the activity is integrated. 
    • Civic Inclusion
      Civic inclusion is a community-based activity that includes involvement in local politics or volunteerism, such as attending political party meetings, volunteering for nonprofit organizations, or helping with local elections.
       
    • Cultural Inclusion
      Cultural inclusion is a community-based activity that includes participating in or learning about local culture. These may include participation in community events, such as the Fourth of July Fireworks, Holiday Lights events, or Memorial Day activities. They may include participating in clubs, such as Kiwanis, the American Legion, or a softball league. And they may include classes or educational activities, such as art classes, visits to an art or history museum, or visits to a local botanical garden or recreation area.
       
    • Spiritual Inclusion
      Spiritual inclusion involves participation in a community-based activity that is organized or sponsored by a church, such as worship services, Sunday School classes, or church food drive.
  • Employment--Working Toward Self-Sufficiency and Engagement Toward Employment
    Employment– Working Toward Self-Sufficiency is measured as the percentage of employable individuals working 20 hours or more per week and earning the minimum wage or greater during the four specified reporting weeks. Engagement Toward Employment is measured as the percentage of employable individuals working at least 5 hours per week and earning the minimum wage or greater during the four specified reporting weeks. The employment outcomes do not apply to individuals between 18 and 64 who have been assessed a level of support of 5 or 6, involved in an ongoing recognized training program (secondary school, GED, or post-secondary school), or individuals 65 or older who choose not to work (i.e., are retired). Because employment may vary during the year, the employment outcome isassessed during two two-week periods (usually in April and October) during the year. The final outcome is the average of employable participants who were working toward self-sufficiency or engaged toward employment during the reporting periods.
    • Employment-Working Toward Self-Sufficiency
      Employment– Working Toward Self-Sufficiency is measured as the percentage of employable individuals working 20 hours or more per week and earning the minimum wage or greater during the four specified reporting weeks.
       
    • Engagement Toward Employment
      Engagement Toward Employment is measured as the percentage of employable individuals working at least 5 hours per week and earning the minimum wage or greater during the four specified reporting weeks.
  • ER Visits for Psychiatric Care
    The outcome is measured as the average number of emergency room visits per individual per year. Emergency room visits are measured as the number of times the individual goes to the emergency room for psychiatric reasons, is observed, and returned home without being admitted.
     
  • Homelessness
    The outcome is measured by the average number of nights spent in a homeless shelter or on the street per individual per year. For the purposes of this outcome, transitional shelters are not considered a shelter. A transitional shelter is a program and/or residence in a shelter where the individual pays toward rent and/or is developing skills to acquire housing.
    • Transitional Shelter
      A transitional shelter is a program and/or residence in a shelter where the individual pays toward rent and/or is developing skills to acquire housing.
  • Involvement in the Criminal Justice System
    The measure for this outcome is the average number of jail days utilized per person per year. Jail days are counted if the individual spends the night in jail, regardless of the number of hours in jail.
     
  • Negative Disenrollment
    This outcome is measured by the percentage of individuals who were negatively disenrolled. Disenrollment is the termination of services because of an individual leaving the program either on a voluntary or involuntary discharge. Negative disenrollments occur when an individual refuses to participate, is displeased with services, is discharged to prison for greater than 6 months, or when the agency initiates discharge. Neutral disenrollments occur when the individual no longer needs services or is no longer eligible, leaves Polk County, dies, has a change in level of care, or is incarcerated because of activity prior to enrollment.
     
  • Participant Retention
    This outcome is measured as the percent of individuals supported for at least a year with the community living service provider. Client retention is calculated by the total number of clients served by the community living service provider greater than 365 days divided by the total individuals supported.
     
  • Participant Satisfaction
    Participant satisfaction is based on interviews by the independent evaluator of program participants from each agency. The interviewer asks program participants questions regarding access, empowerment, and service satisfaction. PCHS’s expectation is service excellence. PCHS expects that the vast majority of individuals will rate their program’s service in the highest category. Participants are asked eleven questions concerning their satisfaction with their community living staff, agency program, and services. A point is awarded for each question for which the participant reports being satisfied (i.e., agrees with the question). Occasionally, people choose not to respond to all questions. A program’s score is based on the percentage of points achieved out of the total possible points for the program given the number of responses.
     
  • Psychiatric Hospitalization
    This outcome is measured as the average number of psychiatric hospital days per individual per year. Hospital days are defined as the number of nights spent hospitalized. If an individual is hospitalized under an 812, then the days spent at Cherokee or Oakdale are counted as jail days. However if the individual is hospitalized as a 229, then those days are counted as psychiatric bed days.
     
  • Quality of Life
    Participant quality of life is based on interviews by the independent evaluator of program participants from each agency. The interviewer asks program participants questions regarding education, family relationships, and recreation and leisure activities. Individuals are asked seven questions. A point is awarded for each question for which the individual reports being satisfied (i.e., agrees with the question). Occasionally, individuals chose not to respond to all questions. A program’s score is based on the percentage of points achieved out of the total possible points for the program.
     
  • Staff Stability
    This outcome is measured as the percentage of total staff who were retained per quarter. Staff stability is calculated as the total number of staff at the end of the quarter, divided by the total number of staff employed during the quarter. Then, the four quarters are averaged for the annual result.

Note: If you have questions about disability-related abbreviations, see this Disability Acronym List