Quality Assurance & Technical Assistance
Click on any of the list items below for more information on each topic area. For additional questions regarding ACT’s QA & TA Program contact Cecil Tengatenga, Program Manager of Member Services at 860-247-2437 x379.
Quality Assurance Review Program (QARP):
- QARP Overview
- QARP Data Trends
- Standards of Care
- Overview
- Background (Coming Soon)
- Purpose (Coming Soon)
- Participation (Coming Soon)
- Documents
- Interpretative Guides
- Standards of Care (Coming Soon)
- Acuity Index (Coming Soon)
- QARP Report Card (Coming Soon)
- Overview
The Quality Assurance Review Program (QARP) is the flagship quality improvement program for ACT, monitoring and evaluating the housing needs—placements, case management and services—for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Connecticut. It is a successor to the housing resources initiative of the Connecticut AIDS Resources Coalition (CARC), prior to the merger of that organization with AIDS Project Hartford (APH) in 2013. At least annually, the program begins with a desk audit of selected programmatic materials and culminates into a site review, jointly administered by an independent auditor and representatives from different government departments (DOH and HOPWA).
Through its Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee, ACT developed a set of minimum quality requirements for all the HIV/AIDS supportive housing programs in the state. The Standards of Care (SoC), as the requirements are called—adapted from the 7 Dimensions of Quality created by the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and the case management evaluation procedures of the Ryan White program.
Coming Soon!
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee
- CQI Committee Overview
- CQI committee typically meets monthly and occasionally more often if there are sub-committee matters to address
- Members of the committee work together to ensure adherence to the Standards of Care as well as general improvement and assessment of supportive housing services in the state.
- Maintains understanding of current AIDS CT Quality Assurance Review Process and Standards of Care
- Has recommendation by upper-level staff in their organization, or occupies upper-level staff positions themselves
- Preferably employed in a member AIDS housing program for at least a year
- Ability to analyze statistical information as well as understand technical housing language
- Freedom to commit 2-4 hours per month for meetings (and ability to commit to attend 80% of monthly CQI Meetings)
- Willingness to serve on subcommittee if necessary
- Ability to communicate and collaborate with staff from other agencies representing varying levels of authority
- Interest in communicating with other agencies via phone and email to solve problems and address pending issues
- Interest in Quality Improvement and willingness to be a resource to others if necessary
- CQI Accomplishments
- Working to amend the AIDS CT Standards of Care to better suit the changing needs of HIV/AIDS housing in the state
- Implementing an Acuity Index to better inform quality of services
- Providing technical assistance to fellow agencies as the membership transitions to new quality standards
- Identifying training needs within housing agency statewide
- Electing new independent evaluator for Quality Assurance Review Process
- CQI Contact List
The Committee:
The CQI committee is a group comprised of representatives from ACT supportive housing members. The committee focuses on maintaining quality standards of HIV/AIDS housing across the state of Connecticut, and includes representation from all CT regions. The material is often rigorous, and includes technical examination of AIDS housing quality standards; close working relationships with DOH and HOPWA representatives; collaborative work to share best practices; and ongoing work to improve services to people living with HIV who are consumers of AIDS supportive housing programs.
Process:
CQI committee members will exhibit the following qualifications:
Committee members will exhibit the following skills:
Recent activities of the committee include:
Technical Assistance Program (TAP)
- TAP Overview
- Most seek TA if findings are identified during the audit.
- As recommended by the independent auditor.
- If agency has experienced staff turn over and wish to have new staff apprised of the process.
- If standards are changed and agency wants to ensure audit box has been appropriately labeled.
- If program has failed the audit.
- Desire a mock audit in preparation for audit season.
- TA is also is also one way to enhance our relationship with our member agencies.
- TA is also provided on monthly basis as members submit their HMIS statistical reports. If there are minor errors, detailed notes are returned to the agency and they are connected to Nutmeg for further assistance with the report. These reports also show us how they are doing on maintaining occupancy for the audit process. Agencies have to maintain a minimum of 80% occupancy in order to pass the audit.
- Trainings & Presentations
- ACT Standards & Review Manual (updated 2/1/16)
- ACT Acuity Index
- Housing Assessment
- Regional Training PowerPoint
- TA Request Tracking Log – Q & A
- QARP Powerpoint (August 21, 2020)
- Case Management Training Institute (CMTI)
- TA Request Form
TA is provided to members who seek to improve on audit score or new members in preparation for the quality assurance review process (audit). When the audit season ends, Manager of QA & TA will follow up with agencies to solicit requests for TA.
The Case Management Training Institute (CMTI) opened its doors in November 2011. CMTI, generously funded by the CT Department of Housing, was created to provide a comprehensive training program for individuals with case management responsibilities in AIDS services, AIDS housing, domestic violence, homeless shelters, and transitional living programs, regardless of how the positions are funded (i.e. DPH, HOPWA, DOH, and DMHAS).
Click here for more information on CMTI and to register for upcoming trainings.
Additional Resources:
- HOPWA Program Administration Toolkit
- Good Works, Better Practices, Great Homes Manual
- HMIS Frequently Asked Questions (Coming Soon)