Browsing by Author "Moore, Matthew A."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Behavioral Health Outcome Mangement Tools across the Life Span
    (Indiana Rural Health Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN., 2012-06-15) Walton, Betty A.; Moore, Matthew A.
    This research produced findings that illustrate how intensive community-based services help bridge the gap between mental health functioning of children living in both urban and rural areas.
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    Evaluation outcome update community-alternative to psychiatric residential treatment facilities Indiana intensive youth services
    (2012-10-08) Walton, Betty A.; Moore, Matthew A.
    On September 30, 2012, Indiana and eight other states completed a five year Medicaid grant to demonstrate that intensive community based services can be effective for youth complex behavioral health. These are youth who might otherwise be treated in a psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF). This interim report reviewed findings from Indiana between January, 1 2008 and June 30, 2011. In addition to usual Medicaid clinical and rehabilitation services, grant services were coordinated using the wraparound process (Suter & Bruns, 2009). Non-traditional grant services included: habilitation (skill development), clinical consultation, family training and support, respite, flex funds and non-medical transportation. The Deficit Budget Act grant was to determine the cost effectiveness of home and community based services as an alternative to using a PRTF. This analysis specifically examined under what circumstances youth and families benefit from intensive community based services.
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    Improving the Mental Health Functioning of Youth in Rural Communities
    (2013-07-03) Moore, Matthew A.; Walton, Betty A.
    Disparities in mental health outcomes for youth are often found between rural and urban areas. As part of an overarching question about under what circumstances and for whom, the wraparound process is beneficial (Suter & Bruns, 2009), this study specifically examined whether high fidelity to the wraparound model helped bridge the gap between outcomes in urban and rural areas for youth with complex behavioral health challenges. Youth participating in Indiana’s Community Alternatives to Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities Medicaid demonstration grant between 2008 and 2011 (n = 811) resided in urban (n = 615) or rural (n = 196) communities. Logistic regression examined treatment and contextual predictors of improvement in the mental health functioning of youth. High fidelity to the wraparound model and higher levels of initial behavioral health symptoms predicted improvement in mental health outcomes, with a small, but significant effect size (R2 = .129). Geography, demographic characteristics, initial risk behaviors, nor functional needs were significant predictors of change. Effectively implementing the wraparound process is a feasible strategy to reduce disparities in behavioral health outcomes for youth with complex needs in rural communities.
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    Integrated Cross System Framework: Assessing Needs of Child Welfare Involved Youth and Families
    (Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, 2012-04-13) Walton, Betty A.; Moore, Matthew A.; Merritt-Mulamba, Tanya
    Nearly half (47.9%) of youth , ages 2 to 14, in the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being who had experienced abuse or neglect had clinically significant behavioral health problems (Burns, et al., 2004). Yet, inconsistent identification of parental risks and unmet treatment needs (Libby, et. al., 2005) and underreporting of mental health problems by foster parents, social workers and providers (Raghavan, Inkelas, Franke & Halfon, 2007) are common in the child welfare system. Possible solutions include integrating policies and practices across child welfare, behavioral health and Medicaid agencies (Bai, Wells & Hillemeier, 2009) including comprehensive assessment of vulnerable youth’s and parents’ needs to help plan appropriate interventions (Kisiel, Fehrenbach, Small & Lyons, 2009). Since 2007, Indiana behavioral health providers have used the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS, Lyons, 2009) assessment. In 2010 child welfare implemented the tool, linking referrals for behavioral health services and placements to ratings for youth and caregivers. Simultaneously, Medicaid services were linked to CANS ratings. The CANS tool includes six dimensions (youth behavioral health symptoms, functioning, risk behaviors and strengths and caregiver strength and needs). The ongoing evaluation of an intensive community based services Medicaid demonstration grant provides a window to view the impact of cross system integration of a common assessment tool and the relationship of substance use and mental health needs of caregivers on youth with behavioral health needs and child welfare involvement. Levels of fidelity to the wraparound services model (Bruns et al., 2010), youth and family satisfaction (Brunk & Innes, 2003), claims service information and outcomes (based on CANS) for 1051 grantees, including 494 youth involved with child protective services, have been collected. Differences between urban and rural settings were examined. Findings. Satisfaction for youth and families and fidelity to the wraparound services models were similar in rural and urban areas. An independent samples T-Test found significant differences for caregiver needs for families with child welfare involvement than for non child welfare involved families. Specifically, higher substance use and developmental needs, less involvement in treatment and residential stability and military transitions were significantly higher (p < .01). Consistent with earlier trends (Effland, Walton & McIntyre, 2011), a hierarchical multiple linear regression model involving 377 CPS involved youth found that higher beginning youth needs [symptoms (anxiety and conduct disorders), functioning issues (school achievement and social functioning) and risk behavior (delinquency)], initial caregiver needs (specifically substance abuse) and high wraparound fidelity (particularly community based and outcome wraparound elements) predict improvement in youth needs. On a youth/family level, using common assessment tools helps service providers and families reach consensus about needs, develop individualized intervention plans and monitor progress. At a macro level, using a common language and assessment information across service systems can improve access to needed services. Such strategies build an integrated framework to provide individualized services for vulnerable youth and families (Burns, et al., 2004).
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    Taking a Timeout to Ensure Well-being: Social Work Involvement in College Sports
    (2015-04-01) Moore, Matthew A.; Sullivan, W. Patrick; Pike, Cathy; Kim, Hea-Won; Urtel, Mark
    Background: Participation in college athletics comes with inherent risks. Many of these risks relate to the psychosocial safety and well-being of college athletes. These risks include depression, suicide, alcohol abuse, substance abuse, and the development of an eating disorder. This study specifically examined the current state of psychosocial needs amongst college athletes, the availability of services that address psychosocial needs, the comfort level college athletes have with seeking services, and the identification of barriers that influence whether or not a college athlete seeks necessary help. Methods: This study used a web-based survey to gather information from a proportionate stratified random sample of both college athletic directors (N = 132) and college athletes (N = 349) across all NCAA division levels. Descriptive statistics, parametric tests, and multivariate tests were used to analyze the research questions. This study used NCAA division level and the profile of a college athlete’s sport as independent variables. The researcher created composite scores for athletic, academic, and psychosocial services to serve as dependent variables. The researcher also created a composite score for perceived barriers. Results: There were multiple significant findings for this research study. One key finding was that Division I and Division II college athletes had significantly higher psychosocial needs than Division III college athletes. Another key finding was that Division I college athletes experienced significantly lower levels of comfort in seeking psychosocial services than Division II and Division III college athletes. Furthermore, Division I college athletes reported significantly higher levels of barriers to seeking necessary services than Division II and Division III college athletes. Implications: These significant findings point clearly to the fact that more must be done to ensure the psychosocial safety and well-being of college athletes. This includes athletic departments more clearly understanding the needs of their college athletes, having services more readily available, finding ways to promote a college athlete’s disclosure of a psychosocial risk, and working to address current barriers that prevent college athletes from seeking help. One idea for improving the current state of services explored in this research is the interprofessional collaboration of social workers with college athletic departments.