|
Public programs that operate effectively and efficiently better serve children
and families and also improve the overall environment for the staff. The
private sector has successfully utilized quality improvement theories and
principles to improve business processes and customer service in the automobile
and manufacturing industries. These same methods are being used in many
hospitals and in the United States military. The Southern Institute on Children
and Families has adapted these quality improvement theories and principles to
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes within public benefit
programs and services for children and families.
The Process Improvement Center was created by the Southern Institute to utilize
quality improvement theories and principles to assist customers in improving
the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of processes within public programs
that support lower-income children and families, with a focus on eligibility
services. The Process Improvement Center offers consultation and training on
the application of process improvement techniques to public and private
entities through two major products:
-
Process Improvement Collaboratives
Process Improvement Collaboratives are 12-month engagements between Center
staff; a collaborative faculty of experts in application simplification,
literacy, policy and process improvement; and teams comprised of public program
and private business representatives who share a common goal of achieving rapid
improvements in public benefit programs and services. Each Collaborative
includes:
-
A Pre-Work period, during which teams are asked to complete specific tasks
designed to help prepare them for participation in the collaborative.
-
Three Learning Sessions, during which teams learn process improvement
methodologies, practice new skills, interact with and learn from other
participating teams and plan for next steps.
-
Two Action Periods, during which teams apply what they have learned by testing
strategies and spreading positive results throughout an organization, county or
state.
-
Consulting and Technical Assistance
Process Improvement Center and other Southern Institute staff are available to
provide fee-based consultation and technical assistance to collaborative teams
and individual organizations. Collaborative participation is not required to
utilize consulting and technical assistance services, which include:
-
Technical assistance on eligibility process improvement
-
General consultation on process improvement
-
General policy consultation on Medicaid, SCHIP, the Food Stamp Program and
other public benefit programs
Visit the Process Improvement Center
section of our Web site to learn more about process improvement activities at the Southern Institute. We also encourage you to contact Process Improvement Center staff
to discover the different ways in which we can help your organization improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of processes within public benefit programs
and services.
|