# SuperAssist: Client-Centered Supervision Assist App for Mental Health Providers to Improve Job Well-being and Quality of Care

> **NIH NIH R34** · INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS · 2024 · $235,017

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
This mixed-methods pilot study will develop and test a Supervision Assist App (SuperAssist) for implementing
Client-Centered Supervision (CCS) to improve supervision practices for mental health providers (providers)
and ultimately improve their job well-being and skills, the quality of care, and outcomes for clients. The quality
of mental health services in the United States relies greatly on the quality of front-line providers. However,
burnout and high turnover are prevalent among this population. Innovative supervision practices are needed to
address both the workforce challenges and the quality of care for clients they serve. CCS could help maximize
providers’ strengths in engaging with clients around recovery goals while addressing their challenges on the
job. The specific aims are: Aim 1: design and develop a SuperAssist beta version; Aim 2: conduct beta-testing
of SuperAssist; and Aim 3: evaluate the feasibility and explore preliminary outcomes and change mechanisms
of SuperAssist. In Aim 1, we will design and develop SuperAssist in collaboration with providers and
supervisors at community mental health organizations via a user-centered and participatory app development
approach. We will also develop a SuperAssist training manual. In Aim 2, we will invite 20 providers and their
supervisors to beta testing to seek their feedback with the goal of tailoring the app to its end-users. The testers
will use the app for six months after the SuperAssist training, provide feedback for improvement through semi-
structured interviews after 1 month, then every two months, and complete process and outcome measures of
SuperAssist, during the beta testing period. In Aim 3, we will recruit 40 providers and their supervisors for the
experimental condition and the other 40 for the control condition (treatment as usual). The experimental group
will receive the SuperAssist training and use the app for six months, and participate in online surveys (baseline
[prior to implementation], 3 mo., and 6 mo.), as well as semi-structured interviews after 6 months of usage. We
will use these data along with app response data to evaluate the feasibility and primary outcomes (i.e., provider
job well-being and skills, quality of care, client outcomes) of SuperAssist. The control group will not receive the
SuperAssist training or use the app but will complete the same outcome measures except for the SuperAssist
usability questions. We will also collect recovery outcomes from clients receiving services from participating
providers (i.e., two clients per provider). Key proposed mechanisms of action (i.e., supervisory support, role
clarity) will also be assessed. We hypothesize that improved supervisory support facilitated by SuperAssist
leads to increased care quality and outcomes via job well-being and client-centered practice. Successful
completion of this study will result in an innovative supervision support tool to implement CCS, which can be
read...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10847098
- **Project number:** 1R34MH133664-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** INDIANA UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Sadaaki Fukui
- **Activity code:** R34 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $235,017
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-12 → 2027-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10847098

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10847098, SuperAssist: Client-Centered Supervision Assist App for Mental Health Providers to Improve Job Well-being and Quality of Care (1R34MH133664-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10847098. Licensed CC0.

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