CQI, Inc.

Mailing address:
132 Kemble Street
Roxbury, MA 02119

Street address:
98 Magazine Street
Roxbury, MA 02119

Tel: (617) 427-0505,
Toll Free: (866) 895-4400
Fax: (617) 445-5846

info@cqi-mass.org


Consumer Quality Initiatives
is a mental health consumer-led research, evaluation, and quality improvement nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts.  Its mission is to develop opportunities for the meaningful involvement of consumers and family members in all aspects of mental health research and program evaluation. 

CQI aims to study issues that are relevant to the community; initiate changes to improve the system for all; and narrow the gap between research, evaluation, and practice.  CQI conducts research and evaluation projects that utilize a community-based Participatory Action Research approach, a collaborative method that involves all partnering organizations and consumers in the research process and recognizes the unique strengths that each brings. A primary activity of CQI is to conduct personal interviews and focus groups with people with disabilities and/or their family members using semi-structured surveys and interview guides, leading to in-depth data-driven reports and an emphasis on protocols designed to impact policy and practice directly.  CQI also consults locally and nationally on achieving significant involvement of consumers in the "change" process to promote mental health systems transformation and quality improvement
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Announcing CQI's new Executive Director

Consumer Quality Initiatives (CQI) is pleased to welcome Theodore Chelmow, Ph.D. as its new Executive Director.  Ted comes to CQI with over 20 years of experience in the field of community mental health as a senior manager, researcher, evaluator, and practitioner.  As a consumer, Ted is especially dedicated to the voice and empowerment of people with lived experience of a mental health condition and recovery and to engaging consumers in all aspects of CQI’s critical work.  He is particularly focused on the promotion of social, rehabilitative and health resources which secure the well-being and human rights of all persons.
 
Ted began his tenure on April 2, 2012.  He brings a wide range of management, research and evaluation, mental health policy, and counseling experiences to this position.  He holds a doctorate from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University and a master’s degree in Family Therapy from the University of Massachusetts.  He has extensive knowledge of qualitative, quantitative, and participatory action research methods and will use these skills  to expand and deepen CQI’s future work.  He served as the Director of Policy and Program Development at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs and has worked for the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and a variety of residential, inpatient, and rehabilitative services.  In addition, he is an accomplished speaker and has published on a variety of topics including access to mental health treatment, disparity and stigma, informed consent, and other policy issues.

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Thank You, Boston Foundation 

CQI is very grateful for the generous support of The Boston Foundation's Vision Fund in our search for a new Executive Director.  The Vision Fund is a small grants program designed to provide short-term funding to help nonprofit organizations develop leadership and build capacity to serve their communities more effectively.  The Vision Fund's generous support will go a long way to helping CQI succeed in this next exciting phase of our work.  Thank you!

 



CQI was recognized by the National Assoc. of State Mental Health Program Directors as a best practice for "consumer involvement in evaluation of treatment services"

Developing the DMH Research Agenda- Stakeholder Focus Groups
This report is a collaborative effort of CQI and Dougherty Management Associates. Statewide consumer research priorities are listed herein, as well as many current mental health reearch projects taking place in Massachusetts. Our thanks to Mass. DMH for financial support and to Medical Director Mary Ellen Foti for her consistent support of community-driven mental health research.

Photovoice Young Adult Project 

Read More....






CQI Assistant Director, Melissa Goodman and others have published an important article on Participatory Program Evaluation: 
Young Adults Value Participation, Meaningful Employment and Caring
 
Examining the Role of the Peer Specialist Working at a Day Treatment Program
This report was completed for the Mass. Behavioral Health Partnership, based on interviews with consumers attending day programs with a peer component. We also make recommendations for future consideration. 
 

Consumer-Led Evaluation Teams:A Peer-Led Approach to Assessing Consumer Experiences with Mental Health Services
In 2009, CQI recently prepared a report for National Empowerment Center on best practices in consumer-run evaluation organizations. The report examines current consumer-run evaluation teams, identifies their core and innovative features, and presents recommendations for those planning to start a consumer-led evaluation team.