An exploratory study: an outcome evaluation of Community Concerns, Inc., Odyssey III Safe Haven Transitional Housing Program, 2006

This study evaluated the efforts of Community Concerns, Inc., Odyssey Ill's Safe Haven Program and its effectiveness on improving the Daily Living Activities (DLA) scores of African-American men residing in the program. Odyssey III Safe Haven provides transitional housing and supportive services for homeless men who are diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental illness. The measure used is Georgia's Performance Measurement and Evaluation System (PERMES) Adult Mental Health Daily Living Activities (DLA) scale. Consumers are rated on a scale from 1 to 7 in each of the 20 performance areas. One equals none of the time and seven equals all of the time. Daily activities rated include health practices, housing maintenance, communication, safety, managing time, managing money, nutrition, problem solving, family relationships, alcohol/drug use, leisure, community resources, social network, sexuality, productivity, coping skills, behavior norms, personal hygiene, grooming and dress. The DLA is used by psychiatric case management staff to rate each consumer in these areas on a monthly basis. Outcomes are measured by comparing the scores of three DLA's on each consumer, administered at entry, in the middle of their stay and the most current DLA administered. A sample of 10 African-American men who were consumers of the program was used. A t-test was used to interpret the frequency data collected on consumer outcome variables related to DLA scores. The use of Systems Theory allows for cases to be examined individually, while also considering the consumer's interactive relationships with various services and agencies within the community partnership collaborative of Odyssey III Safe Haven. This systematic approach provides a greater understanding of the different systems involved with each consumer. A brief narrative discusses the results of the study. This evaluation also provides a discussion of the implications for social work practice that highlights the strengths and weaknesses of a supportive transitional housing program for homeless African-American men diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental illness, who traditionally have been difficult to engage in psychiatric treatment and have very poor compliance rates with psychiatric treatment, once they are engaged