Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008) |
This project evaluates the effectiveness of multidisciplinary community task forces using four interrelated research components: (a) a semi-structured key informant interview survey of members of three American and one Canadian task forces, (b) participant observation of task force meetings at each of the four task force sites, (c) small group interviews with attendees of the observed task for meeting, and (d) archival data collection. Reflecting the complexity of compulsive hoarding which spans personal, private, and public domains, the study captured the perspectives of public and private service providers (mental health, housing, social services, public health agencies, private family service agencies) and community enforcement organizations (police, fire, legal systems, animal control) through a comparative case study analysis. Findings include the viability of task forces within certain communities, the commonalities and differences in task force formation and operations, the impact of task force participation on individual agencies and their ability to work with cases of compulsive hoarding and the generation of specific policy recommendations to address local and state responsiveness for this challenging issue.
This project yields new information about how communities are responding to public cases of compulsive hoarding by developing interdisciplinary task forces. It provides a framework for understanding how communities can establish and maintain public policy responses that address the myriad of practice challenges of compulsive hoarding cases. This foundational study will inform future research and policy development and implementation.