 Referral Source Survey Info
The Referral Source survey was available to be completed on-line throughout the end of December 2009 to early February 2010. Given that many referral sources referred more than one youth, findings in this report reflect a total of at least 62 individual cases.
The data collected indicate that service partners within the community who refer their clients to programs at EMYS are generally satisfied with EMYS' services. After excluding respondents who reported "don't know" to the survey items, all survey respondents (100%) either "strongly agreed" or "agreed" that their clients received the services they were seeking, that they received an individualized treatment program that was created in collaboration with them, that these services were premised on evidence based or best practices in treatment, and that EMYS demonstrated a commitment to service coordination with other agencies. Furthermore, nearly all service partners agreed that EMYS' services reflect the multicultural and diverse nature of the community (95%), as well as indicated that they are satisfied with the range of services offered at EMYS (96.1%).
The majority of service partners referred between one and five of their clients to EMYS in the past 12 months, and heard back from EMYS in response to their referral within 48 hours. Overall, 46.2% of service partners indicated that a waitlist existed for the service they were referring to particularly to the Priority Access for Child Welfare program. Nevertheless, the majority (80.8%) indicated that there was ongoing communication and feedback as to the client's status while waiting for the service.
The primary barrier to accessing EMYS' services according to referral sources was long waitlists. Several partners within the community recommended reducing waitlist with respect to size and length of waiting time in order to improve the EMYS' services. However, this is a consistent challenge within the sector more generally.
Importantly, all of the service partners who participated in the RSS09 reported that they would refer to EMYS again, primarily because of the positive qualities of staff members at EMYS (e.g., committed, collaborative) and programs at EMYS, which positively changed clients' lives.
"My client and family needed access to children's mental health services to address their significant mental health and community service needs. My client had essentially not attended school for several years. Meeting this client and family's psychosocial needs required me to reach out and collaborate with the skilled and responsive community colleagues in the WIT Program." (associated with Hospital; referred to WIT) Home based service which meets the needs of my clients and this service is great for clients who are hesitant to seek services on their own in the community." (associated with Child Welfare; referred to Priority Access for Child Welfare Excellent program meeting the needs of teens with multiple challenges." (associated with Child Welfare; referred to Megan Residence)
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