Why We Created BHT Impact's Interactive Measurement Map

Spaghetti Junction is a spiraling set of interconnected interstates and access roads in Atlanta, Georgia, stacked five levels high. Yikes. Even though the Spaghetti Junction might not help you get anywhere quickly, smoothly, or without a mini-crashout, it does come in handy as a helpful metaphor for measurement in youth behavioral health.

As you’ll recall, measurement is complicated. The sheer volume and intensity of connections between different domains of measurement can be mind-boggling.

1) Major Interstates include:

• What to measure and why

• Challenges and problems when measuring

• How to get measurement done (and paid for!)

• Measuring to improve

• How and what to report out

• How to solve the many problems and challenges

2) Then, we have to stack those interstates five-layers high with the different stakeholder perspectives, from youth and families, to systems, to payors and funders.

3) And we can’t forget the exit ramps: what to measure, from whose perspective and for what reason means that measurement is moving in many different directions. Voilà..Measurement Spaghetti Junction. 

While it might seem tempting to burn this whole thing down (and we’ve got critiques and ideas for transformation for sure), the fact remains that the need to demonstrate measurable impact for youth-focused solutions doesn’t go away just because measurement is complicated and imperfect. 

Innovators need to know how to navigate the Measurement Spaghetti Junction so they can show superior outcomes and experience for youth and families, economic return, and make the case for more predictable and sustainable funding streams to keep youth-focused solutions in the game long-term. 

BHT Impact's Interactive Measurement Map

Our interactive measurement map (click above to explore) is designed to help youth-focused innovators navigate the Measurement Spaghetti Junction. As it unfolds, this dynamic resource will serve as an organizational hub to:  

• Unpack the major measurement domains youth-focused innovators need to consider

  • What to measure and why, spanning social determinants of health, psychological symptoms, wellbeing, and much more

  • Measuring to improve youth outcomes, youth engagement, solution design, and overall quality and performance

  • How to actually get measurement done from data platforms, interoperability, and beyond

  • Understanding ROI, data-driven payment models, reimbursement, billing, and related policy, so folks will finally show us the money

  • Reporting measurement data with clear communication, interpretations, transparency, and storytelling that doesn’t stop at “hard numbers.”

  • Identifying and solving around known measurement problems, including consensus, buy-in, funding, and more

    
    

• Draw connections and distinctions between different measurement domains from different stakeholder perspectives and priorities

  • Visualizing the broader measurement landscape, including how different stakeholder priorities are connected or even misaligned, clarifies both the challenges and the pathway forward 

    
    

• Contextualize and understand the many intersections and functions of measurement within the broader youth mental health ecosystem 

  
  

• Provide focused tools to help youth-focused innovators take action 

  • Each domain on the map will be home to a growing collection of expert-curated and developed topic and/or issue briefs, downloadable toolkits, case studies, youth and family perspective pieces, and multi-media (webinars, etc.)

We can’t promise that there won’t be some degree of frustration or confusion as you set out on your measurement journey. In fact, we know there will be, and you may even be here because you’re currently stuck in metaphorical measurement traffic and looking for strategy and solutions. Our goal is to offer as much clarity (and transparency) for your travels, point out and explain roadblocks, and help you get rerouted so you can continue building to reshape the future of youth mental health. 

BHT Impact is a fiscally sponsored project of Moore Impact, a 501(c)3 public charity. For more information, contact hello@bhtimpact.org or visit bhtimpact.org.