Outcomes Improvement Collaboration

The primary objective of this collaboration is to improve the treatment outcomes and thereby the well-being and quality of life for consumers of mental health and substance abuse services.

Agencies engaged in this initiative are actively testing the premise that the consumers's subjective experience of increased well-being, decreased symptoms, improved relationships, and improved overall quality life are an important element in evaluating the effectiveness of care. Use of patient self-report questionnaires are the only means to systematic receive consumer feedback. The collaborators in this project are actively exploring the benefits to consumers from making outcome and alliance questionnaires an integral part of the treatment process.

The content of this page evolves based on feedback from clinicians and the needs of the Health Share program.

Clinician's Toolkit

• Toolkit Login
  • Toolkit Help
    • Includes brief instructional videos

Training Resources

• Multnomah County ACORN Users Web Site
• All-Inclusive PowerPoint: ACORN_Training_PowerPoint_with_Videos.ppt
  • What it is: A little Research (slide 3)
  • How it Works: Day to Day Practicalities (slide 17)
  • Using ACORN: Web-Based Panel Discussions (slide 36)
  • Using ACORN Data to Inform Service Conclusion (slide 43)
  • Using ACORN in Supervision: Web-Based Panel Discussion (slide 53)
  • Using ACORN Data in Program Evaluation (slide 62)

• Brief Refresher PowerPoint: BRIEF_ACORN_training_with_videos.ppt

• Sample ACORN Documents
  • Sample Tx Plan and Progress Note with ACORN: ISSP_and_PN_incorporating_ACORN.pdf
  • Sample ACORN Policy: Attachment_3_-_Outcomes_Informed_Care_Policy.pdf

• Training Videos (Vignettes)
• Introducing ACORN to an Adolescent Client
• Introducing ACORN to an Adult Client
• Front Desk explanation of ACORN
• Using the ACORN in Subsequent Sessions with an Adult Client
• Using the ACORN in Subsequent Sessions with a Child Client/Parent
• Using the ACORN in Supervision

• Other Helpful Training Videos
• Submitting Data
• What Data is in the Toolkit?
• How to Use the Toolkit
• Using the Toolkit in Supervision
• Panel Discussion (Clinical Use of ACORN)

• Information about the ACORN Questionnaires
• ACORN Outcome Questionnaires Online Manual
• Questionnaire Development and Item Selection

Frequently asked questions

• What is outcomes informed care?
• What is an outcomes informed clinician?
• Which questionnaires should I use?
• How do I administer the questionnaires?
• How often do I administer the questionnaires?
• Which clients should I use the questionnaires with?
• Which languages and/or cultural groups are the questionnaires valid for?
• How do I know the Client ID number?
• How do I submit the completed forms?
• How can I view my outcome data?
• Do I need to use a specific informed consent form?
• How do I benchmark my own outcomes?
• What is the ACE Certificate