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Priority Setting Tools |
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This section presents examples of service priority lists, feedback tools, and organizational strategies that agencies may use to weigh decisions and analyze temporal priorities according to the agency’s mission. |
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The administrative staff at Blue Earth County Human Services developed a Service Priority List in order to help guide the decision-making process for program reductions in the short term and program development in the future. Several variables were considered in order to form the attached matrix. Priorities were set according to the agency’s mission. Ramsey County uses a process to prioritize services that begins with organizing services into a continuum. Contracts and staff resources are sorted into a continuum by the primary activities they provide. The continuum includes I&R, Assessment and Intake, and Community Based Support Services (Ramsey used the BRASS codes as a basis for categories and the budget is also organized this way). The Scores by Population document shows the continuum by Target Population. The Prioritization Scale shows what the factors are that were used to develop the ratings. This tool forms the basis for considering budget reductions. Other factors are included in the final decision making including the impact on the service continuum if all services in an area are discontinued and access for special populations such as particular cultural or racial groups. Otter Tail County Human Services developed a Service List and Priority Ratings along with a Feedback Sheet to assist in the planning and decision-making process of program priorities for Otter Tail County. Priorities were set according to the agency’s mission. Otter Tail County uses the Logic Model in establishing outcome measurements of programs. The outcomes are for both county-delivered and contracted services. The Logic Model is also used by the Otter Tail Family Services Collaborative on all projects funded by LCTS dollars. This tool includes an Outcome Framework to be used for programs along with defined indicators that would be measured. Lastly, the Outcome Measurement Reporting Tool was developed to provide a consistent reporting mechanism by both county-delivered and contracted services. 2) Children’s Mental Health Indicators 3) Child Care |