VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1998 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

988988661
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 152 Offered January 26, 1998 Expressing the sense of the General Assembly that the performance and outcome measurement system (POMS) pilots being conducted by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services be continued and that such a system be included in community services boards and facility performance contracts and reports. ---------- Patrons-- Gartlan and Wampler; Delegates: Christian, Hall and Thomas ---------- Referred to the Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, currently, accountability in the mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services system is described and measured through audits, cost containment practices, collection of fees and other revenue, types and amounts of services provided, and the existence of particular policies and procedures; and

WHEREAS, the community services board (CSB) performance contracts and reports establish and measure mutually negotiated, very basic indicators such as types and amounts of services and the costs of services; and

WHEREAS, the absence of uniform cost accounting standards and systems, compatible management information systems, and consistent data bases across the state make analytical comparisons difficult, if not impossible; and

WHEREAS, there is no mechanism comparable to this performance contract process in place for state facilities that establishes up-front performance expectations; and

WHEREAS, while these types of process and output accountabilities are useful and necessary, they do not measure the impact or effect of services or agency efforts on the individuals who are served by those agencies or organizations; and

WHEREAS, there is now considerable interest in more meaningful measure of an organization's effectiveness and the efficacy of its services; and

WHEREAS, the CSBs, Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (the Department), and consumer and family advocacy groups have developed the Performance and Outcome Measurement System (POMS) in response to this interest, and the Department has initiated pilots at several selected CSBs and state facilities; and

WHEREAS, the results of the pilots will be available in December 1998; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services continue the POMS pilot programs and, once POMS has been successfully piloted, revised, and implemented statewide, appropriate and relevant measures from it be included in the CSB and state facility performance contracts and reports; and, be

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Director of the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services that they might be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly in this matter.