RAND Evaluation Finds FSP Project Improves Care
Key staff: Jessica Watts, Senior Program Manager
CalMHSA’s Full-Service Partnership (FSP) Innovation Project gives counties greater access to data for use in enhancing FSP services for people who are unhoused or at risk of becoming unhoused, have a severe mental illness, history of contact with the criminal justice system, and have had multiple hospitalizations. A newly released RAND Corp. evaluation of the project found it has facilitated improved care through:
- More days (128) of stable housing for participants who enrolled after the project began
- Fewer arrests for participants who enrolled after the project started than those who enrolled before
- 2.5 fewer (on average) psychiatric admissions for participants who enrolled after the project began
Through the FSP Innovation Project, counties established a collaboration model that fosters peer learning and county cooperation. Initially, six counties — Fresno, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Siskiyou and Ventura — participated in the project, with additional counties joining later. The project’s goal has been to identify common practices and differences in FSP programs across counties and create innovations.
CalMHSA works with a subcontractor to collaborate with 10 participating counties and clearly define admission and graduation criteria, as well as gather required data. Counties use the combined resources and shared knowledge of a cohort model to deliver the most effective FSP programs and, ultimately, shift the way mental health services are delivered.
The RAND evaluation examined the project directly following innovation implementation at the end of 2021 through 2023.
June 26, 2024