RAC Current Projects & Activities
NEW DIRECTIONS
In the future, the RAC will function as a catalyst for research and a proactive liaison between the research and provider communities. RAC members will offer technical assistance and research consultation to clinicians, students and others who may benefit from the support. We are committed to fostering close partnerships that improve care and service delivery.
Building on its activities over the past decade, the Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is now forging exciting new directions. Working with DWC leadership, the RAC has helped to develop a Research Agenda to promote evidence-based and best practices in the community mental health system. Going forward, the RAC will collaborate with DWC and the Community Planning Council (CPC) to encourage development of research proposals that advance the Authority's Policy Priority 10 on best-practice efforts in the community. Current high-priority research areas are:
- Integration of physical and behavioral health
- Recovery-oriented systems of care
- Outcome measurement
- Sustainability and fidelity to evidence-based practices
- Information management in systems of care
- Treatment systems for co-occurring disorders
- Services for children with mental impairments and their families
CURRENT PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES REVIEWED BY THE RAC
Many behavioral health service projects conducted in the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network's system have been reviewed and approved by the RAC over the years. Some of the current projects deal with performance and outcomes of housing/shelter services, substance abuse prevention and treatment needs, supported education/training and employment of persons in recovery. For more information on these see the following table. This information is based on information provided to the RAC, and some details may have changed since the projects were initiated. If you would like additional information on any of these projects or assistance with one that you are planning, please contact Andrea L. Smith, Director of Clinical Practice Improvement (asmith1@dwihn.org).
Investigator(s): S. R. Herrick
Organizational Partners: WSU and Southwest Counseling Solutions, Neighborhood Service Organization, Travelers Aid Society, Detroit East Community Mental Health, Development Centers, Inc. and Coalition on Temporary Shelter.
Title: Outcomes, Adaptations, and Performance: A Local Evaluation of Shelter Plus Care
Funder: *
Date of Approval: 04/06/2011
Investigator(s): David Johnson, Lynette Essenmacher, Julie Hanna, Leslie Mahlmeister
Organizational Partners: WSU, Gateway Community Health, Adult Wellbeing Services, Community Care Services, Detroit Central City Community Mental Health, Lincoln Behavioral Services, and North Central Health Center.
Title: Gateway Housing Analysis
Funder: Flinn Foundation
Date of Approval: 04/21/2011
Investigator(s): Joanne Sobeck, Eugene Schoener, Elizabeth Agius, Joshua Hartman and Rachel Lathrop
Organizational Partners: WSU and Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, Growth Works, Inc., Adult Wellbeing Services, Community Care Services, Hegira Programs, Inc., and Sacred Heart Rehabilitation.
Title: Structured Interviews for Regional Needs Assessment for Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
Funder: Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
Date of Approval: 04/28/2011
Investigator(s): Eileen Trzcinski and Daniel Klinkerk
Organizational Partners: WSU and Community Care Services
Title: Supported Education Outcome Evaluation
Funder: Community Care Services
Date of Approval: 06/27/2011
Investigator(s): Donna M. Coulter
Organizational Partners: WSU and Southwest Counseling Solutions, Neighborhood Service Organization, Travelers Aid Society, Detroit East Community Mental Health, Development Centers, Inc. and Coalition on Temporary Shelter.
Title: Peer Support Survey
Funder: WSU Project CARE
Date of Approval: 12/19/2011
Investigator(s): Tiffany Smiecinski
Organizational Partners: Applied Behavioral Analysis
Title: Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities, Consumer Link, NSO/Life Choices, The Children's Center, Henry Ford Health Systems, Detroit Public Schools
Funder: *
Date of Approval: 04/18/2012
Investigator(s): Steven R. Erickson, PharmD
Organizational Partners: University of Michigan and Community Living Services
Title: Descriptive study of polypharmacy in adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Funder: *
Date of Approval: 03/09/2012
Investigator(s): Steven R. Erickson, PharmD
Organizational Partners: University of Michigan, ARC-Western Wayne County, ARC-Northwest Wayne County, Community Living Services.
Title: Association between health literacy of caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities and medication administration error using a standardized test
Funder: *
Date of Approval: 03/09/2012
* Information not available at time of posting.