Health and Human Services

CGR has developed, over decades of experience, substantial expertise in evaluating health and human service operations, and an outstanding track record for identifying cost-effective, service-enhancing improvements.

Dutchess and Rockland counties contacted CGR in 2006 to address challenges that they and many communities face. As a result of our efforts, county leaders are reassessing how they manage certain operations.

For Dutchess County, CGR evaluated how programs serving residents in need of assistance to achieve or maintain self sufficiency (e.g., Medicaid, temporary assistance, food stamps), are administered. We analyzed organizational structure, functions, staffing and workflow processes, and interviewed stakeholders. We proposed a new organizational structure and recommended strategies to phase in over two years.

CGR understood the running of a DSS operation. Dutchess County Department of Social Services

In 2007 we will complete our review of Dutchess County's medical transportation services. We have completed similar assessments for other communities, often in conjunction with reviews of Medicaid services.

For Rockland County, we identified needed changes after thoroughly addressing two key questions posed by county administrators: Is the county hospital's nursing staff the appropriate size? Can the amount of overtime for nursing staff be better managed?

Other 2006 Achievements

•  Aligning Staff with Reform Initiatives – Nassau County is pioneering a new approach to human service delivery via an innovative, multi-year initiative. The goal is to make it possible for a client entering the public service system through any door to gain access to any other needed county or community services. One key component of the initiative is Nassau's No Wrong Door staff development program, which CGR assessed to help the county further refine its efforts. With support from the Rauch Foundation, CGR also developed a resource manual so that other counties can capitalize on Nassau's experiences.

•  United Way Community Needs Assessment – As part of a strategic planning effort, the United Way of Rockland County wanted to determine the major unmet needs in the community and set priorities for future funding. Working with the agency, CGR assisted with the design of a survey instrument, analyzed nearly 1,500 survey responses, and identified, among other things, funding and collaboration opportunities by population group (e.g., low income, racial minorities, single parents).

•  2-1-1 Evaluation Model – Across the nation and New York State, 2-1-1 call centers are being established as a vehicle for residents to access community information and referral services for non-emergency situations. The 2-1-1 Finger Lakes Collaborative engaged CGR to help determine key outcomes and measures that it should use to gauge its success. CGR conducted research on similar operations in other states and developed a detailed evaluation model, which the organization plans to use to fine tune its operations and measure future performance.

•  Funding Mental Health Services for Juvenile Justice System Youth– CGR has significant experience with juvenile justice system issues, and in 2006 collaborated on a study with the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice. The center serves as a national clearinghouse for guiding practice and policy in the mental health and juvenile justice arena, and recently released its Blueprint for Change report about model programs. We worked with the center to design and field a targeted program survey to learn more about funding for these programs; analyzed findings; identified challenges and lessons learned; and suggested directions for the future.

•  Health Foundation Management Consulting – The New York State Health Foundation, one of the nation's newest conversion foundations, called upon CGR for a range of consulting services during its inaugural year. CGR continues to provide services to the foundation, which anticipates awarding nearly $26 million in new health-related grants by year-end 2007.

CGR Impact Beyond NYS  
The UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities commissioned CGR to prepare a resource paper on master contracting because of the unique expertise of CGR staff in this area. Master contracting is an administrative tool to combine government contracts within a single provider to both simplify administration and promote integrated, outcome-focused service delivery. The California Endowment and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided funding for this project.