How to design and implement your children's services outcomes management program: a practical training institute for child welfare, behavioral health, and substance abuse services.

During the two-day conference, attendees met in groups to discuss the information provided and concerns or problems they were having regarding outcomes within their own organizations. Subjects addressed included current and future outcomes measurement requirements, determination of good outcomes measures for behavioral health care organizations, effective collection of outcomes data, and use of outcomes data to improve services. Throughout the conference sessions, attendees were reminded to use the outcomes measures and their results to manage and change; include all the pertinent (internal and external) players that will help with the measurement process; define a specific strategy to follow; and keep data collection simple (if people aren't able to collect the data, then collection won't occur).