Mission: The Quality Assurance (QA) Unit commits to improve outcomes for the youth and families in our care by supporting the agency and stakeholders in enhancing the quality of services through the evaluation, assessment, and monitoring of programs, practices, and processes.
The QA Unit monitors the integrity and success of contracted interventions, including the Regional Service Coordination (RSC) model of community services and the Juvenile Detention Centers (JDCs) that provide direct care services for Central Admission and Placement (CAP) intake evaluations, Community Placement Programs (CPPs), individual bed placements, and detention reentry programs. The QA Unit provides oversight and comprehensive reviews, assessments, and reports regarding fidelity to evidence-based models and compliance with contract requirements. Utilizing a collaborative approach, the QA Unit conducts strengths-based performance monitoring, provides coaching and technical assistance, and assists in developing individualized Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plans to ensure programs align with best practices, the Risk Need Responsivity (RNR) model, and DJJ’s strategic framework. The QA Unit also tracks performance measures, identifies program strengths and weaknesses, confirms services are tailored to meet youth’s needs, and provides support and advocacy to promote ongoing system improvements across DJJ. The QA Unit is also the designated DJJ liaison to all JDCs and provides technical assistance for Bon Air.
Additionally, the QA Unit implements the Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP™), an evaluative tool to establish sustainable performance improvement and maximize positive youth outcomes. In partnership with Vanderbilt University, QA Unit staff have attained Level II SPEP™ Trainer certification and actively train Level I SPEP™ specialists. The SPEP™ teams have partnered with providers to evaluate services and provide recommendations for optimizing services for our youth.
