Importance of Evaluative Data

The importance of this evaluation can be reflected back to the work the Integrative Behavioral Health Clinic carries out weekly. I wanted to dive further into their evaluative data to provide more information and awareness to the impact free, mental health services can provide to those who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to receive services. For many uninsured or underinsured Missourians, accessing services to comprehensive behavioral health care can be a major barrier to treatment due to the limited resource availability. Furthermore, we wanted to emphasize the importance and highlight the impact of the evaluative research suggesting increases in accessibility, with the decrease of anxiety/depression related symptoms.

Goals/objectives of work

• To create a problem statement including the background, service deliveries, need for clinic, and the impact it serves on the target population
• Use evaluative methods of research to assess and apply knowledge to descriptions
• Conduct a literature review to learn more about the uninsured or underinsured population the IBHC manages and their access to therapeutic services
• Apply theories of socio-ecological systems to research
• Explain the results of GAD-7 & PHQ-9 assessments and the differences in concerns to race, gender and service utilization
• To understand the core principles and methods of clinical evaluative research of social work practice.
• To understand the importance, potential, and limitations of evidence-based practice in social work.
• To describe selected methods of recording and measurement for use in evaluation.
• To demonstrate objectivity and sensitivity in relation to diversity, culture, populations at-risk, and potential prejudice and injustice in the evaluation process. 

Tasks completed & impact of project

The evaluative research was conducted in four parts. We first, researched the impact and background of the IBHC and the differences between populations and diagnoses. Secondly, we conducted further literature reviews to gather more knowledge in concerns to mental health access and cost. Following, we created a logic model to better show the anticipated outcomes, as well as looked more in depth to previous evaluative data already conducted where there was suggestive success in program service utilization and participation when nominal fees were not a factor. Finally, we looked at theories that worked to explain the correlation, and conducted similar methods of evaluation. The work further suggested that a lack of insurance and the high cost of care seems to be the major issue at hand causing a need for treatment facilities for those who are uninsured or underinsured because for those at or below the poverty line, even small nominal fees can be a major hurdle to accessing care.

Lessons Learned

I learned how to perform and apply evaluative research methods and tools to multidimensional practice interventions and diagnostics. I also learned the benefit in free, mental and behavioral health clinics to individuals and communities especially that are under resourced or more vulnerable to socioeconomic barriers. The research suggested these being factors related to increasing depression and anxiety related symptoms. Another hurdle, however, was in concerns to nominal fees and access. The evaluation of the IBHC suggested a reduction in symptoms and increase in utilization when monetary means were not a factor to receiving care. It was interesting to me that even those with insurance had a higher chance of receiving services, but the majority of individuals still going without care. The success and implementation of clinics such as the IBHC can be a major benefit and advocacy consideration to communities, as well as to the future of mental and behavioral health clinics.

Skills, competencies, &/or capacities learned

• Evaluate, select, and implement appropriate multidimensional assessment, diagnostic, intervention, and practice evaluation tools.
• Research and apply knowledge of diverse populations to enhance client well-being.
• Use knowledge of the effects of oppression, discrimination, and historical trauma on client and client systems to guide treatment planning and intervention.
• Develop intervention plans to accomplish systemic change.