Integrating Mental Health & Substance Abuse Strategies

And the Envelope, Please

Evaluating the Success of Mental Health & Substance Abuse (MH/SA) Strategies in the Context of Broader Program Initiatives

In this session, Thomas Wickizer of the University of Washington discussed the importance as well as the issues and challenges associated with designing and implementing approaches to evaluate the success of MH/SA strategies in the context of broader public problem initiatives.

A major emphasis of his presentation was upon the potential value of using the information found in State administrative databases for evaluation purposes. Dr. Wickizer illustrated these points by sharing with participants information about the design and results of a number of different evaluations he has conducted focusing on the impact of MH/SA interventions on such outcomes as employment, disability, and treatment costs.

References

Wickizer T, Wagner E, Cheadle A, et al. Implementation of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's Community Health Promotion Grant Program: A Process Evaluation. Milbank Q 1998;76(1):121-47.

Wickizer T. The Economic Costs of Drug and Alcohol Abuse in Washington State, 1996. Prepared for the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, Department of Social and Health Services; University of Washington. 1999.

Wickizer T, Joesch J, Longhi D, et al. Employment Outcomes of Indigent Clients receiving Alcohol and Drug Treatment in Washington State. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office of Applied Science 1997.

Wickizer T, Maynard C, Atherly A, et al. Completion Rates of Clients Discharges for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs in Washington State. Am J Public Health 1994 Feb;84(2):215-21.

Current as of July 1999

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Internet Citation:

Integrating Mental Health and Substance Abuse Strategies: Improving the Outcomes of State Health and Human Service Initiatives. Workshop Summary, July 19-21, 1999, User Liaison Program. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/ulpmentl.htm