The primary aim of NCI is to collect and maintain valid and reliable data about the performance of public human service systems.
Through participation in the program, NCI states make a commitment to share information with stakeholders so that data can be used for policy change and quality improvement.
The NCI-IDD team and member/partner organizations have worked over more the two decades to go beyond just publishing the state and national results in order to assist public managers to identify trends, to develop tools to use the data for quality improvement, and to commit to ensuring that the data collection protocols reflect the most current issues and concerns in the IDD field.
Tools have included the development of data briefs on specific areas of interest such as employment, dual diagnosis, self-directed services, and autism spectrum disorders.
To inform the field, the results of analyses of the multi-state dataset have been published in academic research journals and presented at conferences.
The In-Person Survey is completed with a minimum of 400 individuals (per participating state) who are 18 years of age or older and receiving at least one paid service in addition to case management.
Returned survey information is entered into a secure on-line data entry system designed and managed by HSRI.
The survey is intended to capture information about the direct support professional (DSP) workforce such as turnover, vacancy rates, wages, types of services provided, and benefits offered.
The Adult Consumer Survey (ACS) is completed with a minimum of 400 individuals (per participating state) who are 18 years of age or older and receiving at least one paid service in addition to case management.
The indicators that make up the ACS go beyond simple measures of health and safety; they also address important personal outcomes such as community engagement, independence, decision-making, self-direction and other person-centered components of a quality life.
The survey is intended to capture information about the direct support worker (DSW) workforce such as turnover, vacancy rates, wages, types of services provided, and benefits offered.
[7] These data are used to support state efforts to strengthen long-term care policy,[8] inform the conduct of quality assurance activities, and compare performance with national norms.
[11] NCI indicators contribute to the calculation of state rankings in United Cerebral Palsy's report The Case for Inclusion.