The document summarizes the findings of focus groups conducted at 5 Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) facilities in Minnesota to understand clients' perspectives on treatment experiences. The key findings from the focus groups were:
1) Clients reported that caring, attentive staff who develop trusting relationships are crucial to their recovery. Developing safety, comfort and meeting basic needs also support stabilization and recovery.
2) Staying connected to community supports while in treatment is important for recovery and avoiding feelings of institutionalization. Flexible visitation policies and internet access help maintain connections.
3) Housing is a major concern, and clients want more assistance navigating housing options and maintaining housing after treatment. Housing was seen as
Transitioning Mental Health & Psychosocial Support from Short-Term Emergency ...Purvi P. Patel
Report of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support working group from the 2011 Humanitarian Action Summit, hosted by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)
Transitioning Mental Health & Psychosocial Support from Short-Term Emergency ...Purvi P. Patel
Report of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support working group from the 2011 Humanitarian Action Summit, hosted by Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA)
Risking all you have, for what you can’t leave behind by Adam Cooke, Yancoal ...AVEVA Group plc
Adam Cooke, Yancoal Southey Project, discusses his experiences about Digital Asset ownership approach and the development of the Yancoal Southey project execution strategy at the AVEVA World Summit 2016, New Orleans.
The Yancoal Southey Project is a $4B greenfield potash solution mine project located in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Adam outlines the 5 Key Lessons to improve work efficiency and safely by having ease of access to your digital assets.
As a result, Adam built a hierarchy using AVEVA Integrated Engineering and Design (IE&D) that can be applied successfully in your operations no matter where you are in the plants practical life. Click here to find out more how AVEVA can transform your business >> www.aveva.com
Energy Sector Insight: AVEVA BoCAD Integration by Patrick Reilly, Vista Pro...AVEVA Group plc
Patrick Reilly, Managing Partner, Vista Projects, presents an ‘Insight from the Energy Sector’ at the AVEVA World Summit 2016, New Orleans. A modern approach was adopted to skip all unnecessary steps, produce only what is required for fabrication and output directly from 3D model.As a result, Vista Projects significantly reduced project life cycle costs using AVEVA Integrated Engineering and Design (IE&D) solution and Information Management processes.Find out more how AVEVA can transform your business >> www.aveva.com
Adapting Project Productivity to a Different World of Competition by Harry Be...AVEVA Group plc
The oil & gas industry faces long-term price pressures from new competitors and future project portfolios need to be scalable and flexible, avoiding the high risks, costs, and poor productivity of the past. Lessons in efficient manufacturing will need to be learned. Industry expert, Harry Benham, formerly Shell, explains how to put energy projects back on track and discusses the 5 key actions to catalyze reduction in project size and complexity and increase performance.
Find out more how AVEVA can transform your business here >> www.aveva.com
Al ver está presentaciónv vas a volver a pensar que deportes como el futbol no son tan extremos como tú quizá pienses. Así que no dudes y ¡MÍRALA! aprenderás bastante no tengas la menor duda de eso.
Running head CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT .docxtodd271
Running head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT
CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT
Cultural Competency and Treatment of persons with mental illness
Alexis Lowe
Professor Patricia Coccoma
HUMN 6511- Treatment of Forensic Populations
June 16, 2019
Cultural Competency and Treatment of persons with mental illness
The culturally diverse forensic population that I chose to research is those who are mentally ill. This population is of particular interest to me because I have always wanted to work in agencies that do an intervention for members of this population and I have always felt that something should be done when I find helpless people on the streets who are mentally ill. Mentally ill persons can be described using characteristics which cut across the population but lean mostly to the side of those who have an extreme mental illness. Most of them experience financial distress, homelessness, lack of money to rent houses and dependence of social programs like social security. Others have violent behavior and remain dependent on mental services for a long time (Naylor et al., 2016). The mentally ill often commit small crimes and because of their health situation, they find themselves in difficult situations. According to Rickwood, 2006, mentally ill persons going through corrections procedures often suffer more psychological problems and this limits their chances of recovery.
The Unique Characteristics of Mentally Ill Patients
Rickwood explores the representation of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. According to Rickwood, the mentally ill are over three times more represented in the criminal justice compared to the ordinary community and this is something of concern. In certain cultures, more persons who have a mental illness live in correction facilities compared to others. However, incarceration is seen to be a major cause of mental health problems due to some of the corrective measures that are employed. Depression among Hispanics is noted to be highest at slightly over 10%, followed by African Americans than Whites (Corin, 2017) Depression cuts across all age groups and genders in the recent past. According to Rickwood there is need to ensure that specialized and professional mental health services are provided in correctional facilities to ensure that the correction process does not negatively impact the victims. pre-release preparation and post-release follow-up are key areas that need a proper overhaul to ensure that the number of cases of relapse is reduced accordingly. Proper understanding of the cultural background of a patient is a major consideration in choosing treatment procedures and it ensures that the health service provider is cult rally aware of the implications of certain choices on certain groups of people. Cultural considerations affect beliefs about sickness, pain and where.
Risking all you have, for what you can’t leave behind by Adam Cooke, Yancoal ...AVEVA Group plc
Adam Cooke, Yancoal Southey Project, discusses his experiences about Digital Asset ownership approach and the development of the Yancoal Southey project execution strategy at the AVEVA World Summit 2016, New Orleans.
The Yancoal Southey Project is a $4B greenfield potash solution mine project located in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Adam outlines the 5 Key Lessons to improve work efficiency and safely by having ease of access to your digital assets.
As a result, Adam built a hierarchy using AVEVA Integrated Engineering and Design (IE&D) that can be applied successfully in your operations no matter where you are in the plants practical life. Click here to find out more how AVEVA can transform your business >> www.aveva.com
Energy Sector Insight: AVEVA BoCAD Integration by Patrick Reilly, Vista Pro...AVEVA Group plc
Patrick Reilly, Managing Partner, Vista Projects, presents an ‘Insight from the Energy Sector’ at the AVEVA World Summit 2016, New Orleans. A modern approach was adopted to skip all unnecessary steps, produce only what is required for fabrication and output directly from 3D model.As a result, Vista Projects significantly reduced project life cycle costs using AVEVA Integrated Engineering and Design (IE&D) solution and Information Management processes.Find out more how AVEVA can transform your business >> www.aveva.com
Adapting Project Productivity to a Different World of Competition by Harry Be...AVEVA Group plc
The oil & gas industry faces long-term price pressures from new competitors and future project portfolios need to be scalable and flexible, avoiding the high risks, costs, and poor productivity of the past. Lessons in efficient manufacturing will need to be learned. Industry expert, Harry Benham, formerly Shell, explains how to put energy projects back on track and discusses the 5 key actions to catalyze reduction in project size and complexity and increase performance.
Find out more how AVEVA can transform your business here >> www.aveva.com
Al ver está presentaciónv vas a volver a pensar que deportes como el futbol no son tan extremos como tú quizá pienses. Así que no dudes y ¡MÍRALA! aprenderás bastante no tengas la menor duda de eso.
Running head CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT .docxtodd271
Running head: CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT
CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND TREATMENT
Cultural Competency and Treatment of persons with mental illness
Alexis Lowe
Professor Patricia Coccoma
HUMN 6511- Treatment of Forensic Populations
June 16, 2019
Cultural Competency and Treatment of persons with mental illness
The culturally diverse forensic population that I chose to research is those who are mentally ill. This population is of particular interest to me because I have always wanted to work in agencies that do an intervention for members of this population and I have always felt that something should be done when I find helpless people on the streets who are mentally ill. Mentally ill persons can be described using characteristics which cut across the population but lean mostly to the side of those who have an extreme mental illness. Most of them experience financial distress, homelessness, lack of money to rent houses and dependence of social programs like social security. Others have violent behavior and remain dependent on mental services for a long time (Naylor et al., 2016). The mentally ill often commit small crimes and because of their health situation, they find themselves in difficult situations. According to Rickwood, 2006, mentally ill persons going through corrections procedures often suffer more psychological problems and this limits their chances of recovery.
The Unique Characteristics of Mentally Ill Patients
Rickwood explores the representation of the mentally ill in the criminal justice system. According to Rickwood, the mentally ill are over three times more represented in the criminal justice compared to the ordinary community and this is something of concern. In certain cultures, more persons who have a mental illness live in correction facilities compared to others. However, incarceration is seen to be a major cause of mental health problems due to some of the corrective measures that are employed. Depression among Hispanics is noted to be highest at slightly over 10%, followed by African Americans than Whites (Corin, 2017) Depression cuts across all age groups and genders in the recent past. According to Rickwood there is need to ensure that specialized and professional mental health services are provided in correctional facilities to ensure that the correction process does not negatively impact the victims. pre-release preparation and post-release follow-up are key areas that need a proper overhaul to ensure that the number of cases of relapse is reduced accordingly. Proper understanding of the cultural background of a patient is a major consideration in choosing treatment procedures and it ensures that the health service provider is cult rally aware of the implications of certain choices on certain groups of people. Cultural considerations affect beliefs about sickness, pain and where.
Join us for a discussion of methods and tools that can be used to support evidence-informed decision making in the context of health equity. Learn about resources to help you apply health equity principles to planning processes that contribute to evidence informed public health.
Guest speakers from Niagara Region Public Health discussed the use of the 10 promising practices to address health equity. This included the results of a qualitative study to identify barriers and facilitators, and provided recommendations for strengthening planning and implementation practice to improve health equity.
This webinar is jointly produced by the National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools (NCCMT) and the National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health (NCCDH), and is supported through funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
The National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools is funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and affiliated with McMaster University. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.
NCCMT is one of six National Collaborating Centres (NCCs) for Public Health. The Centres promote and improve the use of scientific research and other knowledge to strengthen public health practices and policies in Canada.
Crisis Services Task Force Work Plan (August 2015) David Covington
In August 2015, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention launched the Crisis Services Task Force. David Covington and Mike Hogan worked together with a group of consensus national experts, government and health plan administrators, provider executive leaders, people with lived experience and family members of those with serious mental illness.
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & H.docxchristalgrieg
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013)
The three qualitative evaluation methods identified by McDavid & Huse (2013) were qualitative program evaluation, inductive approach, and holistic approach.
According to the article, Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods indicated that “qualitative methods are commonly used in evaluations in order to explore specific facets of programs and give voice to participants”. The qualitative evaluation methods can provide in-depth information that can assist in enhancing the quality of a specific program (Qualitative Program Evaluation Methods).
According to McDavid & Huse (2013) defined inductive approach, as a method that “starts with ‘the data’ namely narratives, direct and indirect (unobtrusive) observations, interactions between stakeholders and the evaluator, documentary evidence, and other sources of information, and then constructs an understanding of the program” p200.
The Holistic Approach defined by McDavid & Huse (2003) is “discovering the themes in the data, weighting them, verifying them with stakeholders, and finally, preparing a document that reports the findings and conclusions” p200.
In the article, “Measuring Change in a Short-Term Educational Program Using a Retrospective Pretest Design”, centered around the Pennsylvania Governor’s School International Studies having a summer program that gives gifted high school students a challenging introduction to the study of internal affairs. The program administrators wanted to understand the effect of the program on the student’s understanding of their knowledge surrounding the core issues (Moore & Tananis 2009). For the past four years the program administrators began using the retrospective pre-post design. The results from the pretest yielded that the students consistently overestimated their understanding of International Studies in the beginning. The program administrator found that using the “retrospective pretest items were more biases than pretest items in certain context” (Moore & Tannis 2009 p200). The authors concluded that the retrospective pretest perhaps could be the most effective way of capturing data that is accurate of pre intervention function than a pretest given before the program begins.
For this article, this learner would use the inductive approach for this article. This approach will allow the researcher and the program administrators to evaluate the program effectiveness through the data that was collected through the pretest, test that were administered throughout the course, and other data. This approach will allow for interviewing the participants throughout the five week program to determine if the students are learning and meeting the intended goal of the International Studies program. The program administrators can also observe the interactions between the participants.
For this particular study, it would be important to test the students prior to taking the course, and then co ...
SOCW 6311 wk 8 peer responses Respond to at least two collea.docxsamuel699872
SOCW 6311 wk 8 peer responses
Respond to at least two colleagues by doing all of the following:
Name first and references after every person
Indicate strengths of their needs assessment plan that will enable the needs assessments to yield support for the program that they want to develop.
Offer suggestions to improve the needs assessment plan in areas such as:
Defining the extent and scope of the need
Obtaining important information about the target population
Identifying issues that might affect the target population’s ability to access the program or services
Instructor wants lay out like this:
Respond to at least two colleagues ( 2 peers posts are provided) by doing all of the following:
Identify strengths of your colleagues’ analyses and areas in which the analyses could be improved.
Your response
Address his or her evaluation of the efficacy and applicability of the evidence-based practice,
Your response
[Evaluate] his or her identification of factors that could support or hinder the implementation of the evidence-based practice,
Your response
And [evaluate] his or her solution for mitigating those factors.
Your response
Offer additional insight to your colleagues by either identifying additional factors that may support or limit implementation of the evidence-based practice or an alternative solution for mitigating one of the limitations that your colleagues identified.
Your response
References
Your response
Peer 1: McKenna Bull
RE: Discussion - Week 8
COLLAPSE
Top of Form
Needs assessments are a form of research conducted to gather information about the needs of a population or a group in a community (Tutty & Rothery, 2010, p. 149). One purpose of a needs assessment is to explore in more depth whether a new program within an organization or agency is needed (Dudley, 2014, p. 117). Key questions of this type of needs assessment may revolve around: (1) whether there are enough prospective clients to warrant this type of program, (2) the different activities or programs that the respondents would be interested in using, priorities for some activities over others, (3) importance of the activities, and (4) times in which this program would be desired and used (Dudley, 2014, p. 117). Potential barriers for the implementation of a new program should also be assessed to ensure the best possible outcome. Some barriers to services could include factors such as: location, costs, potential need for fees, and possible psychological issues related to such things. The following is an assessment of an intensive outpatient program for youth, and a potential need that is currently being unmet.
Post a needs assessment plan for a potential program of your choice that meets a currently unmet need. Describe the unmet need and how current information supports your position that a needs assessment is warranted.
The intensive outpatient program (IOP) at Provo Canyon Behavioral H.
I was pleased to be involved in some of the interviews that happened when the authors were planning this report... and then to be asked to write the Preface was an honour. Since publication I am not myself very aware of the impact of it, and I think this is such an important piece of work, that it deserves publicity as widely as possible. Hence uploaded here
Journal of Human Services Fall/2018
35
A Phenomenological Study on Meaningful Professional
Experiences for Human Services Professionals
Saundra Penn and Hannah Baartmans
Abstract
Human services professionals are a relatively new addition to the realm of professionals in the
mental health community. As such, little research has explored how human service professionals
make meaning out of their experiences with clients. Thus, this phenomenological study explored
the defining professional experiences of human services professionals providing direct care to
persons with mental health and/or developmental disabilities. Findings related to the intensive
role of the human services professional, intrinsic rewards, client connections, barriers to service
provision and professional development, self-care, and ethical issues are discussed.
Literature Review
The human services profession emerged in the 1960s. As communities transitioned from
institutional mental health care, the need for associate and bachelor level community-based
professionals grew (Neukrug, 2017; Woodside & McClam, 2015). Often, human services
professionals are referred to professionally as case managers, generalists, and direct service
providers. Many are responsible for coordinating, consulting, counseling, planning, problem
solving, and record keeping (Taylor, Bradley, & Warren, 1996; Woodside & McClam, 2013). As
generalists, human services professionals are often capable of performing their roles and duties
in many settings and expected to support a range of client populations and demographics
(Neukrug, 2017; Woodside & McClam, 2015).
Human services professionals are often accountable for client care in two primary ways:
direct care of clients and managing and coordinating services for clients within the community
(Neukrug, 2017; Woodside & McClam, 2015). In many cases, this creates a “dual role” as
human services professionals are both providers of care and brokers of services. At the micro-
level, direct service providers are empowering their clients, providing support, and intervening in
times of crisis. At the macro level, they are creating a community network of supports for clients
as well as managing and facilitating these services (Taylor et al., 1996). Several researchers have
explored the challenging nature and complex roles of human services professionals and their
workload (Taylor, et al., 1996; Woodside, McClam, Diambra, & Varga, 2012).
Woodside et al. (2012) examined what time meant to 46 human services professionals.
After completing thematic analysis, the researchers discovered that these professionals had a
“never-ending pace,” highlighting the agencies’ demands, the intensity of client care, and the
lack of time to accomplish it. Moreover, human services professionals admitted that indirect
...
July 2010 State of Illinois Illinois Depart.docxcroysierkathey
July 2010
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Human Services
Division of Developmental Disabilities
STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2011–2017
July 2010
July 2010
Table of Contents
I. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………... 3
II. Overview of the Division of Developmental Disabilities………………………………………………………………… 4 – 5
III. Vision ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
IV. Mission …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…. 5
V. Guiding Principles……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6
VI. Summary of Strategic Priorities and Success Indicators………………………………………………………………. 7 – 8
VII. Key Definitions, Strategic Priorities and Goals…………………….…………………………………………………….... 9 – 17
VIII. Glossary of Terms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
IX. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19
July 2010
3
I. Introduction
The Department of Human Services (DHS), Division of Developmental Disabilities (the Division) is pleased to present its strategic plan
for State of Illinois Fiscal Years 2011–2017. This plan has been developed through a process designed to mine the wisdom of a wide
array of stakeholders. It has also been developed in response to several important environmental conditions: a recessionary state
economy; investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice at Howe and Choate Developmental Centers; Olmstead related litigation;
a growing waiting list for basic community services and the recognition that Illinois must align its services for people with
developmental disabilities in accord with the preferences of those we serve and nationally accepted practices. Current practice calls
upon us to aggressively create a comprehensive and coordinated person-centered service delivery system, rooted in community-
based structures, that appropriately supports individual preferences, and which meets the needs of all individuals regardless of
intensity or severity of need.
This strategic plan is bold and aims to substantively re-orient Division priorities and resources to support a truly person-centered
system of services for which there is a popular mandate; however, this plan cannot be implemented with current funding and
service structures and declining funding for services. While we will do our part to ensure that new policies, procedures, and
strategies follow promising practices, are cost effective, and responsive to individuals with developmental disabilities, the allocation
of resources to support people with developmental disabilities must accurately reflect service demand and be a priority at all levels
of government and for the citizens of Illinois.
Some will ask, “How is this plan different from the last one?” Our answer is that the majority of goals can be directly tied to research
and recommendations made by a wide range of internal and externa ...
2. Table of Contents
I. Project Overview.................................................... 2
II. IRTS Background ................................................. 2
III. Project Methodology ............................................. 3
IV. Demographics of Focus Group Participants ........ 4
V. Participant Demographics: Equity Lens .............. 5
VI. What we learned .................................................... 6
VII. Conclusion............................................................. 9
VIII. Recommendations................................................. 9
IX. Acknowledgements ..............................................10
X. Appendix A: Focus Group Questions ..................11
3. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 2
Project Overview
The purpose of the Intensive Residential Treatment Services (IRTS) Focus Group Project was to gather
feedback on treatment experiences at IRTS facilities in the State of Minnesota from the perspective of the
clients receiving these services. This feedback is intended to inform Minnesota Department of Human
Services (DHS) staff on the human experience of these programs. While we often collect data on numbers
and specific measures, it is important that we have an understanding of how individuals are personally
experiencing this service and what recovery means to them in their own words. This information is equally
valuable when making decisions at a state policy level. Through the use of focus groups, we hope to include
participant’s voices when making future decisions on service design policy. The focus groups were
structured with questions to elicit conversation around the following themes:
What is most helpful and least helpful about the service?
How is this service impacting the lives of recipients?
What additional things could improve the service?
How does distance from home affect treatment?
How connected are clients to outside support while in an IRTS and what factors are contributing to
this?
Note: The complete focus group question guide is included later in this document for reference.
The project included a total of five sites visited and a focus group conducted at each site. This report
includes a summary of the findings from these five focus groups.
IRTS Background
Intensive Residential Treatment Services are licensed by the DHS. An IRTS facility is a place for individuals
to receive time-limited mental health treatment, usually ranging from 30-90 days. IRTS facilities provide
around the clock supervision or assistance as needed while individuals receive intensive mental health
treatment consisting of 1:1 therapy, group therapy, treatment planning, nursing services, independent living
skills and other activities. IRTS programming is designed to develop and enhance the individual’s psychiatric
stability, personal and emotional adjustment, self-sufficiency, and other skills that will help the transition to a
more independent setting. Individuals seeking services at an IRTS program often need a higher level of care
than outpatient services, or may be transitioning from a more restrictive setting (such as hospitalization or
jail). There are currently 47 IRTS facilities throughout the state of Minnesota that range in capacity levels of
10-16 beds. This includes nine IRTS licensed programs which offer only shorter term crisis stabilization
services.
4. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 3
Participating IRTS
Facilities:
Anchor House
People, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
Arrowhead House
Arrowhead House, Inc.
Duluth, MN
Community Foundations
SouthMetro Human
Services
Maplewood, MN
Safe Harbour
South Central Human
Relations Center
Owatonna, MN
Transitions on Broadway
ResCare
Robbinsdale, MN
Project Methodology
The focus group questions were developed with input from policy
specialists within DHS as well as other consumer satisfaction survey
projects. Each focus group consisted of seven open ended questions
with additional sub questions or probes used to generate more
conversation around the main themes. Participants in focus groups
were given a copy of the question guide during the focus group and
filled out a demographic form prior to the focus group. Groups
were conducted by two to three DHS staff. Staff alternated between
roles of leading discussion and taking notes.
For recruitment, eleven sites were initially contacted to request
participation in the project. These sites were strategically chosen
based on location in order to get a combination of facilities located
in the metro as well as greater Minnesota. All participants were
clients currently receiving services at the IRTS facility. The final
project consisted of 5 participating IRTS facilities, with a total of 31
participants across all 5 focus groups.
Focus group participants were encouraged to share a range of
opinions and perspectives, even if they disagreed with what others
in the group were saying. Participants were also given contact
information for DHS staff if they thought of any additional input in
the days following the discussion or if they had opinions they did
not feel comfortable sharing in front of the group.
5. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 4
Demographics of Focus Group Participants
18-24
20%
25-34
42%
35-44
19%
45-54
19%
Participants by Age Range
18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54
55-64 65-74 75+
Female
48%
Male
52%
Participants by Gender
Female Male Other
29%
23%
32%
10%
6%
Length of Stay
2 weeks or less 2-4 weeks
1-2 months 2-3 months
Over 3 months
10%
77%
3%10%
Participants by
Race/Ethnicity
African American White (Non Hispanic)
Asian/Pacific Islander Hispanic/Latina
Native American
6. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 5
Participant Demographics: Equity Lens
Taking a closer look into the race/ethnicity of focus group participants and comparing it to the overall racial
demographics of recipients of IRTS participants statewide, it was discovered that minority populations are accessing
this service significantly less than their white counterparts. Below is a comparison of the racial demographics of the
participants in this focus group project and data pulled from the statewide Mental Health Information System
(MHIS) of the racial background of all recipients of IRTS from January 2016 to June 2016. As you can see, in both
the focus group sample as well as total recipients of IRTS statewide 77% are white, whereas African American and
Native Americans only each make up 10% of participants in the focus groups, and have even lower representation
of recipients statewide with 7% and 8% respectively. Asian and Hispanic/Latino groups are even less represented.
Although exploring reasoning for this difference in access was beyond the scope of this project, it is important to
call attention to. Further recommendations regarding these equity concerns are highlighted in the recommendations
section of this report.
1%
7%
8%
7%
77%
Recipients of IRTS Statewide
January 2016-June 2016
Asian
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Other Race
White
Source: Minnesota Mental Health Information System (MHIS)
10%
77%
3% 10%
Focus Group Participants by
Race/Ethnicity
African American White (Non Hispanic)
Asian/Pacific Islander Hispanic/Latina
Native American
7. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 6
“I was scared at
first…But staff were
respectful and very
good at what they
do…They listen and
are genuinely
concerned.”
“[Upon Arrival] I
was impressed and
comfortable. I had
access to a shower, 3
meals a day, and a
comfortable bed –
that was exciting!”
What we learned
Participants in the focus groups we conducted were gracious enough
to provide an abundance and wide range of opinions, perceptions
and experiences. When analyzing data on what was discussed within
each focus group, common themes continued to be prevalent across
all groups. This section highlights some of these themes and provides
context that further illustrates what participants had to say about
them.
Staff Relationships
Participants overwhelmingly expressed that the staff they are working
with at these facilities are a caring, attentive group of people who do
their job well. They cite this as a core reason for their success at these
programs, and articulate how developing caring, trusting relationships
with staff is crucial to their recovery. Several participants spoke to
how when staff were friendly, welcoming and helpful upon arrival
they felt a sense of initial comfort when getting settled in. One
participant spoke about how developing a relationship with
counselors who include the individual on goal planning was crucial,
stating, “Here, they ask you what you want instead of just choosing
for you…I think that’s huge because if you’re picking your own goals
you’re more likely to work on them.” Participants articulated how
meaningful it can be to have people who do not judge you and
genuinely listen to what you have to say.
Safety and Comfort
Participants echoed a sense of safety provided by this service that has
been essential to their recovery and “getting them back on their feet.”
Participants explained safety and comfort can be provided in a variety
of ways ranging from the physical surroundings, to the caring people
and to the predictability of having basic needs met. Participants also
stressed having some form of privacy contributed to a safe and
comfortable environment. Overall, they illustrate that safety, comfort,
and meeting basic needs play an important role in their stabilization
and recovery.
8. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 7
Connections with Community and Outside Support
Participants emphasize that being able to stay connected to the
community while at an IRTS facility is crucial to their recovery. Many
participants report they have been able to stay in touch with friends,
family and other professionals in their community during their
treatment at the IRTS and that things like flexible visitor policies and
access to internet have helped. Participants explain that with any
residential treatment experience there is always a risk of feeling
“institutionalized” which makes it harder to transition back into their
communities after treatment. Participants at the facilities we visited
really valued being able to still attend appointments in their
communities as well as the opportunity to attend community events
and activities outside of the facility. This provided them with a sense
of still belonging in the community while also giving them a chance
to practice various skills they might be working on. This has
positively impacted their recovery.
Housing
Housing continues to be a major concern for participants across the
board. Many emphasized a need for more assistance while at IRTS
facilities in navigating the process of finding as well as maintaining
appropriate permanent housing. Participants do not see housing as a
separate issue from their mental health needs, but instead they view
housing as an integral part of their recovery. Many articulate that it is
challenging and overwhelming trying to understand the requirements
for eligibility in various types of housing and do not know where they
will be staying when they leave treatment. Participants explained that
specific groups centered on maintaining and searching for housing
would be helpful, as well as a go to person for housing consultation
and resources.
Note: While more might be able to be done in addressing housing
needs while at an IRTS facility, this is also likely a reflection of the
limited supply of affordable housing options statewide – an issue that
advocates continue to discuss across the state.
“IRTS helps because
you still feel like
you’re part of the
community”
“I really feel like
there should be
specific groups on
housing… I think
that it’s just as
important as
cognitive behavioral
groups – it is just as
much a part of our
recovery.”
9. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 8
“I feel like I have a
chance at life…I feel
like there’s hope”
“I believe this place
has saved my life”
Co-Occurring
Substance Abuse Needs
Several participants emphasize
that they have co-occurring
Co-Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders
Several participants emphasize that they have co-occurring substance
abuse needs in addition to their mental health needs. Many spoke to
feeling like IRTS facilities were effectively addressing both of these
needs. Participants discussed how they value groups that incorporate
both, and educate them on how substance abuse disorders and
mental health symptoms interact. Some participants also felt that
being able to address their substance abuse needs in a less restrictive
setting like an IRTS was beneficial to alternative, more restrictive
chemical dependency treatment settings.
Hope
Throughout the focus groups and in response to the question, “How
is your life different by receiving services from an IRTS?” many
participants articulated that they are more hopeful about their
recovery. When discussing this hopefulness around recovery, they
often spoke about the chance to get organized and regain stability
and structure in their lives, as well as learn concrete methods for
better managing symptoms. Participants talked about having more
control, being more prepared and being in a “better place” as a result
of their treatment experience at the IRTS.
Additional Themes
Participants gave additional insight that might not have been heard as
widespread, but are still worth noting.
Parenting Support – some participants discussed a desire to get
more support around parenting skills while at an IRTS.
Physical Activity – many participants brought up the
importance of having access to varieties of physical activity and
exercise while at an IRTS and how this is extremely important to
their recovery.
Transition –participants spoke about the difficulties around
transitioning between treatments back into the community. Many
called for brainstorming strategies that can bridge this gap and
make it feel less abrupt.
10. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 9
Conclusion
A total of five focus groups were
conducted, including 31 participants who
are currently receiving services at IRTS
facilities across the state of Minnesota. Six
main themes stood out across all focus
groups, they include: 1) Relationships with
Staff 2) Safety and Comfort 3)
Connections with Community and
Outside Support 4) Housing 5) Co-
Occurring Substance Abuse Disorders,
and 6) Hope. Participants had additional
ideas around parenting support, physical
activity, and transitioning from treatment
to community. These three additional
themes were explored in the report as well.
While these themes give us context and a
better understanding of the human
experience of IRTS programming, it was
also evident that each individual has
unique needs and perspectives, therefore
having some degree of individualization
within these programs is valuable.
Although IRTS services fall on a
continuum of care, not everyone’s path to
recovery falls in a sequence of services.
For example, participants explained that
some had been to an IRTS on more than
one occasion, and each experience was
different. Participants explained that
sometimes more than one stay is
necessary, and depending on where one is
at in their recovery process, they might
benefit from the treatment in different
ways at different points in time.
Recommendations
Emphasize the importance of rapport building and
engagement
Encourage staff and support them in developing these skills and
relationships. Consider this when evaluating successes of
programming.
Consider safety in all aspects of programming
Do what is possible to make spaces physically and emotionally
safe, comfortable and inviting to clients.
Develop plans to more effectively address housing
needs of current IRTS residents
Collaborate with experts in housing and homeless services to
better navigate housing needs and increase housing stability prior
to discharge. Consider offering more groups or education around
housing stability in conjunction with more traditional mental
health services at IRTS.
Encourage staying connected with community as
part of programming
Offer a variety of opportunities and ways for clients to feel like
they are still part of their community. Participants expressed
having a system of phases for increased independence was
helpful to practice skills out in the world and left them better
prepared for transitioning back to their communities. Participants
also valued internet access and flexibility with visitors as helping
them maintain some of their natural supports.
Explore Equity Concerns in Access to Services
Based off of the demographic information on who is utilizing this
service, it is recommended that further research explore this gap
between whites and minority populations. Solutions as well as a
concrete plan to address this gap and make services more
accessible to racial/ethnic minorities should be pursued.
11. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 10
Acknowledgements
This project would not have been possible without the generosity and willingness of IRTS residents to share their
experiences and stories with DHS staff. Many thanks to them for giving their valuable time, knowledge and
expertise.
Another sincere thank you to the providers who were willing to participate in this project. Thank you for your work,
helping to coordinate this project and for welcoming us into your spaces to hold these focus groups.
Finally, thank you to Ruth Moser and the Adult Mental Health Division of the Minnesota Department of Human
Services for overseeing and making this project possible. Thank you to Emily Clary for additional assistance during
the focus groups.
We hope that what was learned from this project will continue to impact policy around these facilities while also
encouraging the intentional seeking out of information from clients in other settings to inform policy decisions in
other areas.
12. IRTS FOCUS GROUP PROJECT – AUGUST 2016 11
Appendix A: Focus Group Questions
1. Think back to when you first arrived at the facility--tell us about your first thoughts,
impressions, and reactions to the service.
2. If you could get anything you wanted out of this program, what would it be?
3. If you were in charge of designing this service in order to support your recovery, what would
it look like?
4. How is your life different by receiving services from this program?
5. How far is home from where you currently are, and how does the distance affect your
recovery?
6. What types of supports and services do you have available in your community outside of this
program?
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For accessible formats of this publication or additional equal access
to human services, write to dhs.mentalhealth@state.mn.us, call
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