Mental Health Services Dynamics & Dilemmas Map
To view this map:
1. Download by clicking on
Current version of Mental Health Services Dynamics & Dilemmas Map
NOTE: This is a large PDF file. It may take a few minutes to download.
2. Open the map in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you don't have Adobe Acrobat Reader, you can download the Adobe
Acrobat Reader FREE
Zoom. You can zoom to any part of this map by using the icon with the number and percent (125%) in the lower left hand corner of the Adobe Acrobat page and click the up arrow to zoom in and down arrow to zoom out.
Setting for the map
This map was created for a task force appointed by the Board of
Supervisors of Multnomah County. The problem is that there are
many separate and distinct agencies that are a part of the care
delivery system in Multnomah County. They receive their funding
from many separate federal, state, county, and private funding
streams. The problem was to explore the possibilities for a greater
integration and improvement of these services.
Initial problems in the task force process
The task force was composed of approximately 20 agency managers,
professionals (e.g. nurses, doctors, and case managers), advocates,
and members of the community. Early in the project, the initial
problem faced by the members of the task force was to understand
the problem the county was facing. Each of them knew something
about the problems from their own experience. But, they needed
to see all of the different major agencies and sectors. They needed
to understand what the problems were as seen by different sectors.
They needed to see what was causing the problems. They each brought
their own backgrounds and experiences to the task force and literally
needed to "get on the same page."
The map
The map was designed to be able to portray all of the relevant
data on a single page. The sectors and agencies are portrayed
as irregular shaped areas. The key phenomena and events are described
informally. The major problems are highlighted in yellow boxes.
They are connected to their apparent causes by arrows. Relevant
data appear in the sector boxes as needed to convey the scope
and size of services.
Results
The map went through several versions as the task force met to
integrate their thoughts about the problems of integration of
services. The map was not, however, thought of as a product by
itself, but only an artifact that helped the process of the task
force to achieve their common understandings so they could proceed
to their main task which was developing the priorities for system-wide
change.
Use
The map was used as the interim report to the supervisors. The
board of supervisors received the report with appreciation that
they could "see what the problems are" without having
to read a 60 page report.