Quality
Leaders Network
Philadelphia Team Charter
Revised 10/22/00
Purpose:
The Quality Leaders Network (QLN) is an organization for professionals who
are engaged in both organizing and providing quality assurance and quality
improvement services within the social service arena, serving in both public and
privately funded organizations. Social service is practiced in many disciplines,
and as such this group is structured to engage a wide variety of social service
stakeholders. The primary activities of this group thus far has been to develop
and disseminate information regarding accreditation standards, organizational
policies and procedures, outcome measurements, and team development.
Rationale:
The presence of Quality Improvement professionals in social service agencies
has been the natural outgrowth of the current emphasis on outcomes by both
accrediting agencies and stakeholders. As this is a relatively new phenomenon,
at present there are no formal professional societies or membership
organizations that are responding to the growing needs of these professionals
either locally or nationally.
The quality social service professional is often the sole person within an organization charged with developing a system-wide quality improvement strategy. As a result, a professional support system and networking opportunities are strongly desired. Through the Quality Leaders Network (QLN), opportunities for collaboration among quality social service professionals shall be available. These activities may include resource sharing, technical support related to quality improvement planning and accreditation, support and affirmation for the role of the quality professional and problem solving.
Expected Activities/Outcomes:
(In order of priority)
* Understand how agency QI systems operate, Know what QI people do-data systems,
processes, procedures
* Technical Training (hosting team events)
* Disseminating information (accreditation information)
* Increase networking, other networks set up nationally, Recruit and retain
members
* Understand how outcome indicators are selected
* Benchmarking
* Problem solving (share critique reports)
* Theory development
Scope and Boundaries:
The scope of the Philadelphia Quality Leaders Network (QLN) extends to all
social services and may involve membership in public and private sectors.
Members should be aware of funder issues. For example, members of the QLN may be
comprised of funding organizations. Potential conflicts of interest should also
be identified at each meeting.
Meeting guidelines include clarifying the meeting purpose and structure, learning the various roles of leader, facilitator, recorder and team member, following the agenda and determining what is confidential. It is expected that team members will be ready to participate, will embrace all ideas, respect others and pose concerns in a positive way.
Communication requirements include the Team Leader sending email reminders, one week in advance of upcoming meetings. Meeting notes and agendas will be posted on the website in advance of meetings. Members should RSVP to the host organization to confirm their attendance. The Team Leader will make brochures available to members for distribution to stakeholders of member organizations.
Finances are a significant constraint. There is currently no fee for membership or dues. Donations are collected by the host organization for lunch and the cost of creating and distributing materials is assumed by individual member organizations. Fees for membership may be considered in the future, but current activities that require financial resources will be requested of member organization on an ad hoc basis.
Related Activities:
The Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC) hosts a breakfast
series on evaluation and outcomes and also provides ongoing training workshops
related to evaluation an outcome measurement. Other local organizations that
provide continual training on evaluation and outcomes include the Non-Profit
Management Development Center (NMDC), and the Children Youth and Family Council
of the Delaware Valley, Inc. (CYFC). The Department of Human Services has been
working on an outcome measurement project for 'Services to Children in Their Own
Homes (SCOH) and Foster Care services. Activities of national organizations
include the American Humane Association (AHA) which facilitates a yearly
Roundtable on Outcomes in Child Welfare Services, the National Association of
Social Workers, and the Council on Accreditation (COA) which provide CQI
networking and training events. Related internet resources include the United
Way Outcome Resource Network and a similar network of Child and Family Service
professionals in New York called the Quality Improvement Network.
*Philadelphia Health Management
Corporation (PHMC): www.phmc.org
*Non-Profit Management Development Center (NMDC): www.lasalle.edu/services/nmdc
*Children Youth and Family Council of the Delaware Valley, Inc. (CYFC)
*American Humane Association (AHA): www.americanhumane.org
*National Association of Social workers (NASW): www.socialworkers.org
*Council on Accreditation (COA): www.coanet.org
*United Way Outcome Resource Network: http://national.unitedway.org/outcomes/
Stakeholders:
* Social services professionals who are
responsible for leading quality related initiatives
* QLN member agencies
* Staff
* Boards of directors
* Primary customers
* Volunteers
* Funders, grantors
* COA, JCAHO, Eagle
* Schools that offer quality management degrees such as Penn State, and Great
Valley
* Advisory boards
Time Frame:
General meetings are held once each month and are generally 1.5 hours in
length. Meeting locations rotate among membership organizations. The host
organization is responsible for providing lunch and collecting a $5.00 donation
from members at the time of the meeting.
Members:
The responsibility for facilitating meeting will rotate among members each
meeting. The responsibility for recording the meeting notes will rotate among
members each meeting. Founding members of the Quality Leaders Network attended
the Council on Accreditation's Outcome Measurement Training in Philadelphia on
July 30th 1999. Philadelphia participants came from these founding member
organizations: Bennett and Simpson Enrichment Services, Catholic Social
Services, Children's Service, Inc., Lutheran Children and Family Service and
Women's Christian Alliance.
The Team Leader maintains a current membership list.
