Advocacy & resource for citizens with intellectual & developmental disabilities, & their families

Affiliated with The Arc of Pennsylvania & The Arc of the United States

 

  Our Mission

  Upcoming

  Events

 

Independent Monitoring For Quality

Armstrong and Indiana County IM4Q Program

 

HISTORY 

Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) is a result of the Multi-Year Plan for Pennsylvania’s Office of Developmental Programs.  The Multi-Year Plan called for the creation of local independent teams to monitor the quality of services for people with developmental delays.  These teams were to consist primarily of people with disabilities, family members, and interested others.  The Arc of Indiana County participated in the “pilot” in 1999 and continues to conduct the interviews annually. 

 

PURPOSE 

The purpose of IM4Q is to collect information to improve the quality of life of people served/supported.  IM4Q is a part of the Office of Developmental Program's Quality Management Process.  This process is guided by the values and principles of Everyday Lives:  choice, control, quality, stability, individuality, freedom, relationships, success, contributing to community, accountability, mentoring, collaboration, and inclusion. 

bulletIM4Q involvement is voluntary.  People and families are asked to participate on a random basis.
bulletLocal IM4Q programs assign independent monitoring teams and enter interview results into a confidential database.
bulletThe Armstrong & Indiana Counties MH/MR Program uses the results of interviews for quality improvement purposes, such as making changes to a person’s Individual Support Plan.

HOW HAS IM4Q BENEFITED PEOPLE

The following is a quote from an IM4Q Monitor:

“I feel the IM4Q Program performs an invaluable and necessary service to people with developmental delays and their families… IM4Q is all about improving the quality of life for the people they serve and, in my opinion, nothing is more important than that.”