title: Goal achievement and the accountability of consumer-run organizations.
abstract: This study explores how consumer-run organizations (CROs) can maintain independence while meeting the accountability needs of funding agencies. The importance of both funding agency needs for accountability and CRO needs for independence are discussed. A goal-tracking process is proposed as a potential strategy for balancing the potentially conflicting needs of accountability and independence. To demonstrate the utility of the goal tracking approach, this study analyzes goal tracking documentation in 3 years of quarterly reports from 21 CROs (also known as consumer drop-in centers and self-help agencies). Results detail the different goals of CROs. A 68% goal achievement rate suggests general organizational competence. Furthermore, CRO operations appear to be relatively cost-efficient, with an average of $11.51 spent per person per day. The analysis of quarterly reports leads to a discussion of several insights that may be useful to CROs, funding agencies, researchers, and mental health professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. ldbrown@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Louis D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wituk
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meissen
mesh_terms: D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000191:economics*; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005375:Financial Audit; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D008330:Management Audit; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012941:Social Responsibility