Top KPIs To Track in Behavioral Health Alumni

You probably know the saying, “You can’t improve what you don’t measure.” This is especially true when it comes to alumni programs in behavioral health. Without knowing and monitoring the top KPIs to track in behavioral health, it’s nearly impossible to know who’s really engaged, who’s thriving in recovery, and which parts of your program are actually making an impact.

By keeping an eye on the right indicators, you can accomplish two things at once: strengthen alumni engagement and measure recovery success in a meaningful, data-backed way.

In this guide, we’ll break down the KPIs that matter most — from event attendance and check-ins to referrals and readmissions.

Top Alumni Program Success Metrics

In behavioral health, metrics aren’t just numbers. Looking at the bigger picture, metrics paint a story. They show where alumni are staying connected, where they might be slipping away, and where your program can step in to offer the right support. Here are the top key performance indicators you may want to keep an eye on.

Participation Rate & Event Attendance

Participation rate is one of the simplest yet most telling alumni program success metrics you can track. Simply put, it measures how many of your alumni are actively engaging with your program. This can include opening newsletters, joining support groups, attending workshops, or logging into online sessions.

Event attendance is a natural extension of this. When alumni show up consistently, it’s a clear sign they feel connected and supported. High attendance is often a real indicator of program effectiveness.

By tracking these numbers, you can spot trends, recognize who might need extra outreach, and identify which events or communication channels are resonating most. 

Check-In Completion & Online Engagement

When you’re thinking about the top KPIs to track in behavioral health, don’t overlook the small but powerful signs of engagement, including whether alumni respond to scheduled check-ins. This can be anything from text messages and phone calls to in-app notifications. Every response tells you they’re staying connected, open to support, and invested in their recovery.

Online engagement is another critical piece of the puzzle. Are alumni logging into your portal? Participating in forum discussions? Interacting in app communities? 

These behaviors may seem minor on the surface, but they provide a window into how your program is supporting long-term recovery. High engagement online often translates to better retention, stronger peer support, and a sense of belonging that keeps alumni coming back.

Peer Mentorship Participation

One of the most impactful alumni program success metrics you can track is peer mentorship participation. Beyond just counting mentor-mentee pairings, it’s about looking at the ongoing interactions between alumni. How often are mentors checking in with their mentees? Are they providing guidance, support, or simply a listening ear?

Peer mentorship plays a huge role in strengthening recovery networks. When alumni connect in meaningful, supportive ways, it reinforces their commitment to recovery and fosters a sense of community. Those ongoing interactions build long-term engagement, making alumni more likely to stay involved in your program, attend events, and even refer others.

By tracking mentorship participation, you gain insight into both the quality and depth of your alumni connections. It’s a metric that shows not just activity, but the real-life impact of relationships your program helps cultivate.

Feedback & Satisfaction Metrics

Understanding how your alumni feel about your program is yet another powerful way to measure success. Among the top KPIs to track in behavioral health, surveys and qualitative feedback give you a clear picture of alumni satisfaction. Are your check-ins, events, and mentorship programs making a real difference? Are there areas where alumni need more support?

Consider alumni feedback a vital roadmap for continuous improvement. 

Paying attention to what graduates are saying allows you to make meaningful adjustments to programming, communications, and engagement strategies. The result? Alumni who feel heard, supported, and more likely to stay connected over the long term.

Alumni Referrals & Readmissions

Alumni referrals are a key behavioral health performance indicator. When alumni refer others or return for follow-up care, it shows they trust your program, value the support they received, and see long-term benefits in staying connected.

Take Renaissance Ranch as an example. Their alumni referrals and readmissions grew from 15.4% in 2022 to 29.77% in 2024, contributing to a conservative revenue boost of over $580,000. This demonstrates how tracking referrals can give you both insight into program effectiveness and a measurable return on investment.

By monitoring these numbers, you can see which engagement strategies are working, strengthen recovery networks, and make data-driven decisions that benefit both alumni and your program.

Relapse Rate: Measuring Recovery Outcomes

While engagement and satisfaction metrics show how connected your alumni are, the relapse rate is where you see the real test of program effectiveness. 

Relapse rate measures the percentage of alumni who return to substance use after completing treatment. It’s one of the most important indicators of program effectiveness because it directly reflects how well your alumni are maintaining recovery once they leave your care. Tracking relapse rates helps you understand what’s working, what isn’t, and where additional support may be needed.

Here’s how you can use relapse data to adjust your alumni support programs:

• Identify high-risk alumni early. Monitor patterns in relapse to proactively reach out to individuals who may need extra support or resources.
• Tailor follow-up programs. Adjust check-ins, mentorship pairings, or group sessions based on relapse trends to provide targeted interventions.
• Refine event and engagement strategies. Use relapse data to understand which types of events or support sessions most effectively support long-term recovery.
• Improve educational resources. Update workshops, newsletters, and online content based on areas where alumni struggle most post-treatment.
• Measure program effectiveness over time. Compare relapse rates across cohorts to evaluate changes in your alumni program and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.

How to Use KPIs to Improve Alumni Programs

Tracking the top KPIs to track in behavioral health — especially with the help of the right alumni software — is just the first step. What really counts is how you use that data to make your alumni program stronger. These metrics give you a clear picture of engagement, satisfaction, and recovery outcomes, allowing you to take targeted action.

Here are some practical ways to turn KPI insights into meaningful improvements:

• Prioritize high-impact engagement strategies. Focus on events, mentorship programs, or check-ins that drive the most consistent participation and positive outcomes.
• Personalize alumni support. Use data from check-ins, online activity, and relapse rates to provide timely, tailored interventions for individuals who need extra guidance.
• Refine communications and content. Track which newsletters, messages, or online resources get the most interaction, and double down on the content that resonates.
• Optimize program resources. Allocate staff time and budget toward initiatives that show measurable engagement and recovery impact, maximizing ROI.
• Continuously evaluate and adapt. Use behavioral health performance indicators to identify trends, adjust strategies, and test new approaches to improve retention and long-term outcomes.

By applying insights from KPIs, you can make your alumni program more effective, increase engagement, strengthen recovery support, and ultimately demonstrate tangible results to stakeholders.

Conclusion 

Tracking the top KPIs to track in behavioral health is utterly helpful in understanding your alumni, improving engagement, and supporting long-term recovery outcomes. From participation and check-ins to peer mentorship and relapse rates, every metric gives you insight into what’s working and where your program can do better.

Team Recovery’s white-label app makes it easier than ever to monitor these KPIs, strengthen alumni connections, and provide targeted support that drives lasting results. To see how a dedicated app can help your program boost engagement and prove impact, read this guide.