Current Research and Evaluation

Continuous Quality Improvement

Since the beginning of the agency-wide Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiative in 1995, Research and Evaluation staff have provided technical assistance (TA) around data collection, interpretation and utilization. In addition to information concerning peer record reviews and review of critical incident reports, CQI has developed and conducted a series of Consumer Surveys.

This project has expanded from a simple parent survey to an outreach effort to gather more detailed feedback from foster and birth parents, foster children, and professional collaterals. Through their involvement in CQI, department staff has sought to improve the measurement of consumer satisfaction and the utilization of feedback to improve agency services.

Periodically, TA has been used by CQI to assist exploration of other issues that effect service quality (e.g., incidence and causes of school suspension). CQI has emerged as an important, high profile forum for demonstrating, discussing, and enhancing the utility of program evaluation, as well as building the internal capacity for further data collection and use.

For further questions regarding the Research and Evaluation Department's role in CQI, please contact Ben Kerman (bkerman@caseyfamilyservices.org).