Overview of the QA&I Service Area Effort

Through the QA&I initiative and the local QA Committee, each Service Area operates its own QA system.  The QA Committee monitors Service Area activities and outcomes.  The QA Coordinator provides leadership to the Committee.  The specific functions for the QA&I effort at the Service Area Level, under the leadership of the QA Coordinator, includes:  

• Direct and monitor the Service Area's quality assurance activities through the QA Coordinator and QA Committee.
• Provide logistical and staff support for State-directed data collection and analysis, case reviews, special focused studies, and site visits as needed.
• Routinely collect, review and analyze information concerning the outcomes for children and families and the Service Area?s capacity to deliver services consistent with the goals and mission of DHS.
• Initiate change in a Service Area quickly, based upon QA Data-Information-Knowledge, by the local level management team under the authority of the Service Area Manager through:
• Identifying areas for change and performance improvement
• Identifying strategies and needed resources to make the change
• Implement the changes within available resources or provide justification in seeking additional resources
• Support the maximizing of learning from the QA&I process across the Service Area through sharing with managers, supervisors and line staff QA&I accomplishments, strategies, results, approaches and tools for change and performance improvement.  
• Support the dissemination of information across DHS by sharing Service Area QA&I accomplishments, strategies, results, approaches, tools and lessons learned with the Quality Council.
• Issue periodic reports on the functioning of the Service Area?s system of care to the Service Area QA Committee, Quality Council, the Service Area Manager, and others as needed.