Consent Letter

PORTIAND STATE
lJNlVERSf!Y

Regional Research Institute
for Human Services
Post Office Box 751
Ponland, Oregon 97207-0751
1600 SW Fourth Avenue, Suite 900
PHONE:503-725-4040
FAX:503-725-4180
WEB:hup:/Iwww.rri.pdx.edu
TheRegionalResearch
Instituteis affiliated
with the GraduateSchoolof SocialWork

Dear:

The RegionalResearchInstitutefor HumanServicesat PortlandStateUniversity and the
University of Massachusetts Medical School are partnering to conduct a research project in Clark
County, Washington. Your agency has been identified as one that may provide services that can
include individuals aged 14-25who have serious mental health conditions and have been served
by the RegionalServicesNetwork(RSN)as adolescents.
We would like to interview an administrator from every such program in Clark County and your
organization has identified you as the best person for us to contact. If you agree to participate,
we will be asking you about a group of services and supports known as the Clark County
transition system. The purpose of the study is to describe the changes in the transition system
and the interconnectedness of the organizations it contains as a result of the Options Project
which was designed to enhance the system. We will ask questions about the degree to which
your organization shares referrals and information with other organizations in the network, your
evaluation ofthe quality of the program and the system, and the degree to which the program's
and system's practices are consistent with current guidelines for serving this population as they
transition into adulthood. The data collection has two parts: response to an on-line survey which
takes about 20 minutes and a face to face interview which takes less than an hour. You will be
answering the questions as a representative of your program/agency. The name of each agency or
program that participates will appear in the report. You will be given the option to have your
name included in an Appendix. Even if youchoose not to have your name listed, it may be
possible for some readers to guess who from your agency was interviewed. Participation in these
interviews is voluntary.
The end product of this series of interviews is called a network analysis, which will describe
changes in the strength and direction of the relationships between all of the relevant agencies in
the Clark County area. This information will be used to help the RSN and the Clark County
Department of Community Services continue to improve services for youth with serious
emotional disturbance as they mature from ages 14 to 25. Results of the study will also be made
available to your agency/program.
Lastly, the network analysis will add to the knowledge base about system reform for youth with
serious emotional disturbance in transition to adulthood. I (or other staff from the Regional
Research Institute at Portland State University) will be contacting you shortly to answer any
questions you might have and to make an appointment. You will receive a $10 Starbucks gift
card, which you are free to keep whether or not you chooses to participate. If at any time you
have questions please feel free to contact the principal investigators of this project; Nancy
Koroloff, Ph.D., at PSU (503) 725-4157 or Maryann Davis, Ph.D. (508) 856-8718, at the
University of Massachusetts. If you have questions or concerns about the conduct of this
research, you may contact the Compliance Officer at the Office of Research and Sponsored
Projects, Portland State University,1-877-480-4400. We thank you in advance for helping us with
this important project.
Sincerely,

Nancy Koroloff
Portland State University

Maryann Davis
University of Massachusetts

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