Presented to: Minnesota Omaha System Users Group February 1, 2012

1. Early Intervention Program & Early Family Support Services: Analyzing Program Outcomes with the Omaha System of Documentation Presented to: Minnesota Omaha System Users Group February 1, 2012

2. Project Background • Since 1989 Public Health - Seattle and King County (PHSKC) has provided public health nursing (PHN) services for maltreated children through the Early Intervention Program (EIP) and Early Family Support Services Program (EFSS). • The EIP and EFSS programs serve children ages birth to eighteen years of age, who have been reported to Washington State Children’s Administration (CA) for child maltreatment concerns. • Although EIP and EFSS program data has been collected over the years, there was not a mechanism to evaluate the overall program benefits and outcomes.

3. Choosing the Omaha System A statewide workgroup, which consisted of the EIP and EFSS program staff and Children’s Administration’s Program Director, was convened to choose an assessment/evaluation tool. The Omaha System was selected as its KBS rating system was easy to use, the system could be utilized by nurses, social workers, and community outreach workers, and it could demonstrate program outcomes. Key Omaha System problems were selected to be used to evaluate program outcomes for this vulnerable population: • Abuse (Child Abuse and Adult Domestic Violence) • Caretaking and Parenting • Growth and Development • Neglect (Child) • Health Care Supervision (Child) • Income • Mental Health • Residence • Substance Use (Drugs and Alcohol; Tobacco)

4. Omaha System Tools and Guidelines Development for EIP/EFSS Providers • A KBS rating manual and Omaha care pathways were developed to be consistent with Washington State statutes and local child welfare practice, and to address the specific health conditions and service needs of maltreated children. • Omaha System training materials were also developed to meet the specific practice needs of EIP and EFSS providers

5. Study Methods: • Providers were asked to record KBS intake and exit ratings for the top three Omaha problems they had opened for families onto excel billing logs. • Those EIP and EFSS families that had received PHN services during October 2009 through January 2011 and had KBS ratings documented at intake and case closure were included into the study sample.

6. Methods (cont.): 213 Omaha Problems, generated from 123 families, met the study criteria, and were included into the study’s sample for analysis.

7. Data Analysis • As anticipated, the most frequently opened Omaha System problems were for Caretaking and Parenting (37% of opened problems) and Child Growth and Development (17% of opened problems). • The next most selected problem was Residence (10% of opened problems), which is consistent with the numbers of children with homelessness risks and safety issues in their homes.

8. Opended Omaha System Problems

9. Data Analysis (cont.) • EIP/EFSS Omaha System KBS scores were aggregated and compared from case intake to case closure. • Across all the Omaha problems the average intake KBS ratings were at the lower range or a 1-3 rating. This would be expected considering the high risk factors present in this population. • Despite average low intake ratings, the average change in KBS exit ratings across all the Omaha System problems showed that there was a positive change of 0.5 or greater for most ratings.

10. Data Analysis (cont.) • The most significant positive observed changes across all KBS rating areas were for the Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Drugs & Alcohol) Omaha System problems. This was a surprising finding as it had been anticipated that these would be the problems that would be the most difficult to make change in.

11. Summary of KBS Rating Changes from Intake to Case Closure

12. 1.0 Average Change in Mental Health Status Scores

13. 1.27 Average Change in Substance Abuse Status Scores

14. Data Analysis (cont.) • In analyzing the KBS intake and exit ratings it was observed that several problems had no changes in KBS ratings or that there were negative changes in the ratings. As some of the children were closed due to out-of-home placements, or lost to follow up this would be anticipated. • These KBS ratings helps to illustrate that the providers were able to report positive as well as negative changes with their clients.

15. Discussion • The use of the Omaha System easily allows for the aggregation of program data. • The KBS ratings can be shown numerically and graphically in ways that are easy to understand. This is important as the data was shared with a Child Protection Agency outside the health care system. • The use of Omaha System Problems and KBS ratings was an important improvement over previous methods of program evaluation such as interviewing staff/community partners, and reviewing client records/reports.

16. Discussion (cont.) • Through the use of the Omaha System, we were able to successfully demonstrate improvements in serious problems for maltreated children and their caregivers, after their participation with PHN services. • This data analysis project has contributed to a better understanding the needs of our vulnerable population and the effectiveness of program services.

17. Public Health Seattle King County EIP/EFSS Program Contacts: • Deborah Greenleaf, Program Lead Deborah.Greenleaf@kingcounty.gov (206) 263-8375 • Rebecca Benson, Program Referral Coordinator Rebecca.Benson@kingcounty.gov (206) 263-8381 • Lois Schipper, Program Supervisor Lois.Schipper@kingcounty.gov (206) 263-8378