Using staff focus groups to refine a feedback process for people who used project liberty

Project Liberty provided free counseling services to those affected by the September 11(th) attacks. Focus groups were conducted with Project Liberty provider staff to gain feedback on their participation in the process of evaluating Project Liberty individual crisis counseling services. Focus groups provided information regarding barriers to eliciting feedback from people who used Project Liberty services that informed planning for the next phase of the evaluation. Focus groups proved to be a valuable method for collecting data from service providers across provider sites that differed geographically, culturally, ethnically, and organization ally, as well as in methods of offering services to individuals with mental health problems related to the attack on the World Trade Centers.