What is CQI?
Continuous quality improvement (CQI) is the iterative, incremental improvement of the approach and/or processes of a program or organization, with the ultimate goal of achieving or improving outcomes. At Midwest Evaluation and Research (MER), we incorporate robust CQI practices in all our partnerships. When CQI is required by a grant funder, we support our partners to implement the prescribed CQI process alongside their own internal goals and objectives.
How does MER implement CQI practices with our partners?
By focusing on CQI, we ensure that our partners identify and address implementation issues quickly, avoiding any last-minute surprises. MER’s CQI process includes the following components:
- CQI Team – MER helps each of our clients develop a diverse team with as many perspectives as possible. This includes those who work on the ground with day-to-day knowledge and decision-makers who can ensure interventions are impactful and actionable.
- Metric Identification – MER works with the CQI Team to identify metrics that need to be tracked, which could include performance measures required by a funder and/or those chosen by the CQI Team. This step begins by referencing or jointly developing a logic model and setting target benchmarks.
- Monitoring Reports & Regular Meetings – MER creates biweekly CQI reports with data visualizations that show progress toward targets for each metric of interest, and we facilitate CQI Team meetings to review and discuss these reports.
- Intervention Testing – When an indicator is not meeting agreed upon standards or is not progressing in the right direction, we collaboratively develop interventions designed to drive improvement. Our staff then assesses the effectiveness of those interventions in subsequent reports, and interventions are maintained or tweaked accordingly.
- Training – to support and reinforce all of the above!
What makes MER’s CQI approach so robust?
In addition to supporting essential CQI practices, MER also works with our partners to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement within their organizations. We provide training not only on how to read and interpret CQI metric reports, but also on the foundational mindset of curiosity and humility that most successful CQI processes require. The safer CQI Team members feel to ask questions and discuss programmatic shortcomings, the sooner improvement interventions can be identified and implemented.
MER also has our own internal CQI Team of appointed staff who review our metrics and iteratively improve our company processes. Not only do we support this work for our partners, but we also truly live it ourselves. In fact, learning orientation is one of MER’s organizational values.
Contact us!
To learn more about MER’s evaluation team and how we can work with your program to implement CQI, please contact us to set up a meeting!