Decision Making

Community Defined and Data Informed Decision Making

RCCMHC engages hundreds of families, system partners, service providers, and community leaders to identify needs, propose interventions, develop metrics, create data collection/ evaluation tools, analyze outcomes and address service gaps.

One example is our Family Services Committee which includes 75+ caregivers of children with mental health concerns who are involved in multiple systems. Most committee members have BIPOC families, report high ACE scores, trauma histories, and/or mental illness.

Objectives

1) Increase awareness of needs as defined by community, 2) Increase community participation in policy making, program design and evaluation, 3) Increase public access to RCCMHC’s impact and outcome data

Our Approach

Evidence Based: To evaluate the effectiveness of our direct service interventions, data is gathered through a comprehensive assessment when a family starts working with RCCMHC. We analyze service utilization data, demographic data, client surveys, intake and treatment completion surveys, retrospective post-test designs, interviews and polls.
Community Engaged: RCCMHC also uses a community-engaged approach to program design, implementation, and evaluation that includes qualitative data, collecting stories, and engaging personally with individuals who use the services.

Lived Experience, Equity and Belonging

Inequities can result when the people most likely to be impacted are excluded from decision-making.

RCCMHC's commitment to engaging community and sharing power ensures that our programs and services are not only responsive but also tailored to the unique needs of the diverse populations in Ramsey County.

64% of our Board members identify as BIPOC and many have lived experience with youth mental health.
All RCCMHC staff have lived experience with mental health, trauma, and/or poverty. Most are BIPOC, some are multilingual, and some are members of the LGBTQ community.
We intentionally partner with BIPOC-owned and culturally specific agencies to guide our work. These partnerships also make it possible for us to make “best fit” resource connections based on criteria identified by each client family.
We engage client families and service providers as full partners in program evaluation and development.
We use a relationship-based approach that increases sense of belonging for staff, client families, and system partners.

Initiatives and Programs

Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting

A local researcher supports our Impact and Outcomes Committee, survey development, and data analysis.
RCCMHC invests in technology and tools to collect and report data
RCCMHC hosts community events such as Data Walks and uses our website to display Community Needs and Impact Reports.

Community-Based Committees, Task Groups and Listening Sessions

Family Services Committee, SLMH Task Group, Crisis Task Group, Impact and Outcomes Committee , Cultural Outreach Committee and Advisory Council
Parents, youth and providers regularly provide one-on-one feedback and ideas through phone, email or our 800# Resource Line.

Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative

Working across systems and with families to support children's mental health.

Community Defined and Data Informed Decision Making

Lived Experience, Equity and Belonging

Data Collection, Analysis and Reporting

Community-Based Committees, Task Groups and Listening Sessions