About Us
Purpose and Mission
The overall mission is to provide leadership and recommendations to the Department of Human and Health Service, the Bureau of Developmental Services, and the regional service delivery system on assuring quality service and lives.
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The Council is also tasked with reviewing information on the quality of developmental services in New Hampshire and make recommendations for improving service quality and the quality assurance and continuous improvement systems, including but not limited to:
(a) Standards of quality and performance expected of area agencies and provider agencies.
(b) Types of data to be collected, analyzed, and disseminated to determine whether standards are being met.
(c) Quality assurance and oversight mechanisms to be used to gather data and information.
(d) Content, frequency, and recipients of quality evaluation and improvement reports.
(e) Expectations and procedures for following up on identified areas where improvements are needed.
(f) Structures, policies, rules, and practices, including staffing or organizational changes, to ensure that the developmental services system works as intended in RSA 171-A:1, including:
(1) Ways of supporting values-based and person-centered service planning and provision, as well as problem solving, innovation, and learning;
(2) Recognizing and disseminating what is working well (best/model practices); and
(3) Reviewing, interpreting, and disseminating data and information on a regular basis to bring about transparency for all stakeholders and the public.
History
In 2009 the New Hampshire legislature passed, and Governor Lynch signed into law, HB 483 establishing the New Hampshire Developmental Services Quality Council (hereafter referred to as the Quality Council). The creation of the Quality Council came about as a result of the State Legislature’s repeated consideration of issues affecting New Hampshire’s developmental services system. In 2007 the New Hampshire Legislature passed SB 138 providing funding for the developmental services wait list, proposed increasing salaries for certain direct care workers, and establishing a broadly representative committee (known as the SB 138 Committee) to improve the capacity of New Hampshire’s developmental services system to address workforce and quality assurance issues. In its final report, SB 138 Quality Improvement Committee Report, issued in November 2008 the committee recommended establishing, in statute, an ongoing council to review quality assurance efforts and make recommendations to improve the ability of the developmental services system to meet the needs and goals of the individuals it serves.
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To view our statute, RSA 171-A:33, please click here