When referring young people for residential and/or other services, parents, guardians,
or others have the right to know what can be expected in terms of outcomes.

While mental health treatment certainly is not an exacting science which carries with it guaranteed results, it is Optimist's position that outcomes measures are an important
part of a quality program.

As a Nationally Certified Council on Accreditation (COA). Member Agency, we collect data on our clients. Amongst the vehicles utilized are satisfaction surveys that are completed each year by all children and their parents. In addition we administer the survey at the time of
the child's discharge. Clients are asked how well they liked several aspects ofthe program, whether they felt that the services received were timely and effective, and whether they would recommend our agency to others. They are also provided the opportunity to add comments of their own. A similar questionnaire is sent to referring county workers. The annual surveys completed in March are summarized as follows: 

 Children's Surveys:
95%
 Report that the staff have been nice and helpful.

92% Report that the Optimist programs have helped them with their problems.
98%
 Tell us that their individual therapy was helpful.
88%
 Found family therapy to be helpful.
92%
 Benefited from group therapy.
94%
Liked the recreation program.
94%
Found that the teachers at our school were helpful.
84%
Report that the child care staff were much appreciated.
 Parents Surveys: 
100%
 Felt that they were treated with dignity and respect by our staff.
97%
Would call us again for help in the future.
97%
 Would recommend O.Y.H. to others.
95%
Felt included in the treatment process and well informed of their child's progress.
98%
 Participated in family therapy sessions.
Foster Families Report That :
86% Of the time our workers are courteous.
89% Of the Families are pleased with our services.
72% Tell us that our workers are always available quickly.
81% Knew who the program supervisor was.
81% Found the supervisor always friendly, courteous and supportive. 
Follow-Up:

Each  year we conduct a follow-up study of graduates who participated in our 
aftercare program. The impressive results revealed the following: one year later 
84% remained crime free and no longer resided in any type of out of home facility. 
45% were gainfully employed. 37% had graduated high school or were still 
attending school.The significance of successful residential or foster home 
placement followed up by an effective community based aftercare program is 
truely demonstrated by these statistics.