Table 1.

Questions related to the measurement of human service network integration: an alignment of theoretical, political, and empirical perspectives

What should we measure? A theoretical approach	Why should we measure this? A policy approach	How should we measure this? A measurement approach
Criteria Levels of Network Analysis [1, 6]	Human Service Policy Criteria [8]	Comprehensive Measure of Integration [12]
Membership growth: • Effective mix of core (critical) and peripheral services Relationship strength (multiplexity)	Appropriateness: (To evaluate appropriateness) Are the appropriate number and type of services involved given the NEED and CONTEXT (geographic, legislative)	Structure of Network: Current and Expected – • Extent • Scope • Depth • Congruence • Reciprocity [12]
Integration/coordination: Absence of duplication Range of services (rather than only number of services) Minimum conflict Member commitment to network goals	Acceptability: To providers To recipients' culture (processes by which services are provided)	Function of network: • Quality of • Value of [13]
Administrative structure: Cost of network maintenance Creation and maintenance of network administrative structure Resource acquisition and distribution Enhanced legitimacy	Accountability: • Governance • Agreements • Monitoring	Ingredients of integration: Governance, common record, case coordination, etc. [14] service agreements
Service access: Network capacity (“ability to develop and sustain action to improve health”) [1]	Accessibility: Location Intake assessment and eligibility Adequacy: Wait list/times Equity: Horizontal  – Similar needs  – Similar resource Vertical  – Different needs  – Different resources	Network system capacity: • Wait times/lists; client volume • Joint programs [1]