REFORMING THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC DENTAL SERVICES IN IRELAND: POTENTIAL COST IMPLICATIONS. ESRI RESEARCH SERIES NUMBER 80 APRIL 2019

This report details the results of an analysis of the potential cost implications of proposed changes to aspects of the model of delivery of publicly-financed dental services in Ireland, as set out in the new National Oral Health Policy (Department of Health, 2018b). Currently, dental services in Ireland are financed and delivered in a mixed public-private system, with most individuals paying out-of-pocket fees to independent dental practitioners. The public system currently finances the delivery of dental healthcare services to adult medical cardholders via the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS); to non-medical cardholder eligible adults via the Treatment Benefit Scheme (TBS); and to children and adults requiring special and complex care via the Public Dental Service (PDS). This report deals with proposed changes to the delivery of preventive dental healthcare services under the DTSS and PDS

Outside Evaluation of Conecticut\u27s Family Resource Centers : Final report

In 193, the Connecticut State Department of Education received federal support for the activities of nine existing Family Resource Centers (FRC) and for funding new FRCs. The FRCs were based on the premise that many childhood and adolescent problems can be prevented by strengthening effective family management practices and establishing a continuum of child care and support services linked to public schools or located in public school buildings. This report details the evaluation of the 18 school-based/linked FRCs, describing their structure and contexts, examining evidence of service use, and presenting information on the effects of the FRCs on families and schools. Chapter 1 presents the service delivery model, describes the core services, and describes the evaluation plan. Chapters 2 through 5 summarize findings related to the following areas: (1) structure of core services, service delivery, financial supports, and staffing characteristics; (2) processes used to deliver services in a school-based/linked setting, including collaborative arrangements; (3) use of FRC services; (4) impacts of FRCs on families and children; and (5) impact of FRCs on schools. Chapter 6 discuses the patterns observed that reflect the implementation of the FRC service delivery model and implications for delivering comprehensive integrated services to families. This chapter also presents recommendations for sustaining the school-based/linked delivery model of the FRCs at meaningful levels. Chapter 7 presents profiles of the 18 FRCs, including their setting, service delivery arrangements, primary collaborative arrangements, and the school relationship. Nine appendices include a description of the Evaluation Support System and data collection instruments. (KB

ADDRESSING GAPS IN THE DELIVERY OF COMMUNITY SERVICES: THE CASE OF ONE INNER-CITY COMMUNITY

The need for more effective approaches to the delivery of health and social services in inner-city communities is well established. Attempts to improve service delivery in such areas as housing, health care and job training usually concentrate on strengthening\u27 community education efforts and other strategies designed to motivate potential users of community services. Little emphasis has been placed on increasing the communication between different community service providers to achieve better coordination among organizations responsible for service delivery in inner-city communities. As a consequence, major service gaps exist including such problems as duplication of services, limited accessiblity [accessibility], and the absence of essential services. Such service gaps may go unnoticed unless community service providers and inner-city residents organize to address these problems. This paper reports on a study of community service providers who are working with residents to deal with the problem of service gaps in their inner-city community

STD Services Delivery Arrangements in Georgia County Health Departments

Background: Uniformity, standardization, and evidence-based public health practice are needed to improve the efficiency and quality of services in local health departments (LHDs). Among the highest priority and most common public health services delivered by LHDs are services related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine potential variations in the delivery of sexually transmitted disease (STD) services among county health departments (CHD) in Georgia, to determine if potential variations were due to varied administrative practices, and to understand delivery arrangements so that future cost studies can be supported.Methods: Web-based surveys were collected from 134 county health departments in Georgia in 2015.Results: Screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis occurred in all the surveyed CHDs. Sixty-eight percent of the CHDs had one or more staff who performed investigations for persons already screened positive for STDs. Partner notification services provided by the CHD staff occurred in only 35 percent of the surveyed CHDs.Conclusions: Variances regarding diagnostic methodologies, work time expenditures, and staff responsibilities likely had an influence on the delivery of STD services across Georgia's CHDs. There are opportunities for uniformity and standardization of administrative practices

The Unsolved Challenge of System Reform: The Condition of the Frontline Human Services Workforce

Outlines issues that compromise delivery of services in the child welfare, child care, juvenile justice, youth services, and employment and training sectors. Discusses the foundation's role in promoting reform

Delivering public services in the mixed economy of welfare : perspectives from the voluntary and community sector in rural England

The voluntary and community sector in England is playing an increasingly important role in the delivery of public services to older adults and in doing so they rely on unpaid volunteers. In this article, we draw on the findings of a recent qualitative study of the impact on the voluntary and community sector of delivering ‘low-level’ public services that promote independent living and wellbeing in old age. The fieldwork focused on services that help older adults aged 70+ living in remote rural communities across three English regions. Those charged with service delivery, which is increasingly the voluntary and community sector, face particular challenges, such as uncertain funding regimes and reliance on volunteer labour

Preventive medical care in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory: a follow-up study of the impact of clinical guidelines, computerised recall and reminder systems, and audit and feedback

Background Interventions to improve delivery of preventive medical services have been shown to be effective in North America and the UK. However, there are few studies of the extent to which the impact of such interventions has been sustained, or of the impact of such interventions in disadvantaged populations or remote settings. This paper describes the trends in delivery of preventive medical services following a multifaceted intervention in remote community health centres in the Northern Territory of Australia. Methods The intervention comprised the development and dissemination of best practice guidelines supported by an electronic client register, recall and reminder systems and associated staff training, and audit and feedback. Clinical records in seven community health centres were audited at regular intervals against best practice guidelines over a period of three years, with feedback of audit findings to health centre staff and management. Results Levels of service delivery varied between services and between communities. There was an initial improvement in service levels for most services following the intervention, but improvements were in general not fully sustained over the three year period. Conclusions Improvements in service delivery are consistent with the international experience, although baseline and follow-up levels are in many cases higher than reported for comparable studies in North America and the UK. Sustainability of improvements may be achieved by institutionalisation of relevant work practices and enhanced health centre capacity

Shaping the criminal justice system: the role of those supported by Criminal Justice Service

In Scotland, the development and delivery ofpersonalised social work services has been part of a wider public service reform agenda, building on Changing lives: report of the 21st century review of social work (Scottish Executive, 2006). This agenda has focused on harnessing the strengths, predilections, networks and capacities of those supported by services, to inform the design and delivery of services. To date, the place of criminal justice in this reform agenda has received comparatively limited attention (Weaver, 2011). This Insight focuses on the issue of involving those who have offended in shaping the criminal justice system, exploring the different models of involvement, the effectiveness of different approaches and the implications for Criminal Justice Social Work services

Variations in the hospital management of self harm in adults in England: observational study

More than 140 000 people present to hospital after an episode of self harm each year in England and Wales. Improving the general hospital management of these people is a key area in preventing suicide. Although professional consensus has been reached on how self harm services should be organised and delivered, wide variations in care delivery have been reported in two regions in England. Using a nationally representative sample, we investigated the variation in services and delivery of care for self harm patients in hospitals in England

ELECTRONIC BANKING - ADVANTAGES FOR FINANCIAL SERVICES DELIVERY

E-banking is a fully automatic service for traditionally banking customer's products based on information technology platforms. E-banking services provide customer access to accounts, the ability to move their money between different accounts or making payments via e-channels. The advantages generated by this services have determined an accelerate developing of this industry over the entire world. This paper examines some of the advantages of electronic banking products together with the characteristic management issues generated by the implementation of this new channel for financial services delivery.Electronic banking, Internet banking, Home Banking, Mobile Banking.