Susan Schoppelrey
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
School of Social Work
1207 West Oregon Street
Urbana Illinois 61801
USA
Phone: 217-265-0577
FAX: 217-244-5220
Email: schoppel@uiuc.edu

Barry Ackerson
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
School of Social Work
1207 West Oregon Street
Urbana Illinois 61801
USA
Phone: 217-244-5223
FAX: 217-244-5220
Email: backerso@uiuc.edu
 
Eric Hadley-Ives
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
School of Social Work
1207 West Oregon Street
Urbana Illinois 61801
USA
Phone: 217-244-5243
FAX: 217-244-5220
EMail: hadleyiv@uiuc.edu
 
Purpose:
Although there is great concern that African American (AA) clients seeking treatment from community mental health agencies (CMHA) do not experience similar treatment outcomes as white clients, little research has been done to examine what factors may improve treatment outcomes for AA clients.  The objective of the study was to identify the features of organizational climate that are predictive of positive treatment outcomes for AA clients seeking services from CMHA.

Methods:
An atypical case study of an agency identified in a published research study as creating positive treatment outcomes for AA clients was examined using cross-sectional mixed-methods and a convenience sample. Focus groups of key stakeholders [AA clients (N = 20), administrators (N = 8), licensed staff (N = 18), and unlicensed staff (N =20)] were engage in semi-structured interviews about the agency’s organizational climate. As well, they completed a scale that measured organizational climate [Administrators/staff, the Work Environment Scale (WES); clients, the Mental Health Statistics Improvement Program (MSIP)].

Results:
The data from the scales were used to categorize the agency in relationship to its ability to treat AA clients.  Chi-squares were used to examine possible differences among the different stakeholders.  The narrative data from the semi-structured interviews were used to triangulate the categories identified by the scales.  The narratives were also examined for patterns connected to the treatment of AA clients.  Approximately 85 percent of stakeholders identified a specific set of features within organizational climate that influenced treatment outcomes for AA clients.  These features included, staff flexibility, professional appearance of the facilities, responsiveness to client requests, the use of innovative practices, the use of evidence based practices, flexible administrators, and cooperation with other social service agencies.

Implications:
The findings show there are some basic features within CMHA’s organizational climate that significantly influence treatment outcomes for AA clients.