Executive Summary for 2009

The 2009 Outcomes Measurement Report for WACOSA’s rehabilitation programs outlines a number of informational items that will assist us in planning an effective rehabilitation and business strategy in 2010 and beyond.  The attached report is the expanded version of this information and is available for reference.  Key concepts that can be gleaned from this report are as follows:

• Bookkeeping continues to work on the database that compiles the information for this report.  The following information is approximate in some instances, most specifically where the current WACOSA database is not configured correctly to compile information and in instances where consumers attend more than one program.  These issues will eventually be corrected, yielding more precise data on future reports.  

• 480 persons were served by WACOSA in 2009 representing a 1% increase in persons served over 2008.  Though showing modest growth in 2009, numbers of persons served, when compared to previous years, continues to show an overall steady decline over preceding years as funding cuts and service caps imposed by the legislature begin to take hold.

• There were 47 admissions to programs and 29 discharges from programs in 2009.  This represented a 39% drop from 2008’s admission numbers. 

• Admission data recorded for the past 5 years indicates a steady decline in admissions from 05 – 07.  2008 saw a rally of 42.5% in admissions when compared to 2007. Referrals of CADI clientele were the key reason for these admissions.  Then, in 2009, numbers again declined by 38.9% from 2008 specifically and 33.8% over the past 5-year period.

• Discharges have been on a gradual increase from 2005 to 2008.  2009 posted a decline in discharges approximately 31% lower than 2008, with the next lowest level of discharges occurring since 2005.  While we are pleased by these figures, it should also be noted that, since CADI admissions were fewer in 2009 and since this group has historically represented the largest number of referrals and discharges, fewer discharges appears to correlate to the decreased CADI enrollment for the period.

• Persons expressing a personal choice to discontinue service in 2009 ranked again as the number one reason for discharge, consistent with 2008 and 2007.  Poor health and moving out of the area remain two of the most common secondary reasons in the past 3 years for consumers leaving services. 

• Number of females served in WACOSA programs last year rose by 5% between 08 and 09.  Additionally, Native American’s served grew by 2 individuals.  Somali’s were tracked for this first time in this report. WACOSA closed the year having served 1 individual from this community.

• For 2009, 3 new community crews were developed in Sauk Centre, surpassing goal by 1 crew. Additionally, 5 consumers in Sauk Centre secured employment in new individual placements, surpassing goal by 3 placements. 

• In 2009, individuals on community-based work crews achieved an average hourly wage of $5.49, surpassing goals by $.19/hr. The average hourly wage for persons competitively placed during this same period of time was $8.16, falling short of goal by $.19/hr.

• At the close of 2009, approximately 94% of seniors and 89% of North Program consumers met individual targeted community outing goals, falling short of goal by 1% and 5% respectively.

• In 2009, center-based contract work, excluding work for DocuShred (9,069 hours), employed consumers for 57,146 hours, falling short of goal by 30,787 hours. 

• In 2009, WACOSA DocuShred averaged 51,405 pounds per month, surpassing goal by 1,261pounds.  616,868 pounds of shred was destroyed for 2009, surpassing 2008’s total pounds shredded (547,030 pounds) by 12.7%.

• One area that we continue to see a significant increase is in the use of the DocuShred Store front for customers to drop off their shred. Of the total 616,868 of pounds destroyed in 2009, 128,832 pounds (20.8%) came through our storefront. 2009 saw an average of 20 customers per week using the storefront, compared to an average of 14 customers per week in June of 2008 following its opening.

• ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) is being added to Outcomes Measurement this year for the first time.  Indicators have been set to track Effectiveness, Efficiency and Service Access and will be analyzed from year-to-year to determine program performance.

• In 2009, 100% persons admitted to WACOSA services entered program within 14 days of having a completed referral file.

• Consumers, stakeholders and business partners expressed a satisfaction rating of 96.5% or above on all of WACOSA’s program services, staff and communications.