Becoming an Evidence Based Practice Organization Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department September 5, 2013 Staff Presentation
Hon. Teresa Harper Presiding Judge Monroe Circuit Court
Welcome staff and guests! Thank you for your attendance & attention Staff presentations limited to 1 hour Q & A after presentations Write down questions to be answered after the presentation
Linda Brady Chief Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
Why are we here? Indiana Department of Correction (DOC) provides grant funding to our local Community Corrections Program. DOC required ALL Indiana Community Corrections Programs to undergo program audits in 2013. Programs to undergo program audits in 2013. Our Community Corrections Program was given about 2 months to prepare for the DOC audit. WHY?: To determine if the programs were using evidencebased practices (EBP).
What are Evidence Based Practices? EBP programs/practices have demonstrated through research they are effective in reducing offender reoffending/reducing recidivism. Monroe County s Probation Department began involvement with EBP in 1998. Research has shown that when probation, parole, and community corrections programs are evidence-based organizations, they are more likely to be successful in reducing recidivism.
What s an EBP Organization? DOC s planned 2013 audit was to be on the Community Corrections Program as a whole, to determine if it was in fact an EBP organization. Using evidence-based programs and practices alone does not make an organization an evidence-based organization. The DOC used a tool developed by criminal justice expert Mark Carey, Checklist for Building and Sustaining an EBP Organization.
Preparing for the DOC Audit Decision made to have entire probation department become an evidence-based practice organization. BIG commitment! Conducted staff driven surveys of attitudes, beliefs, and readiness to change as an organization. Formed 3 large committees to prepare for audit. ALL departmental staff served on committees with vertical slice of organization on each committee. Met twice a month, with homework in between.
Audit results & beyond? In March 2013 DOC audit scored Monroe County at 93 out of 100 possible points for evidence-based practices. Our EBP committees continue to meet with many new pilots approved to begin in the next few months. The committee work serves as a roadmap to the future of the probation department. The presentation today represents the combined efforts of ALL staff everyone belongs to a committee. Thank you to staff for your dedication to excellence!
Tom Rhodes Assistant Chief Probation Officer/Community Corrections Director Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
CULTURAL ALIGNMENT Artifacts Checklists Communication SUPERVISION Assessment Case Planning Supervision Tools CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (CQI) Department CQI Policy Exit Surveys EBP in Job Performance Audits & Evaluations
CULTURAL ALIGNMENT COMMITTEE
Scott Thiery Community Corrections Field Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
ARTIFACTS (Visual Reminders of Mission & Practices) Window Clings Believe, Hope, Change & Trust Wall Art with Inspirational Messages
ARTIFACTS (Visual Reminders of Mission & Practices) Prototype Monitor Announcements (i.e., office hours & closings) Education Community Resources Force for Positive Change Press Release Vehicle logos
Ken Bugler Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
Checklists Promoting consistency throughout organization. Unifying formats. Verifying all requirements and processes are completed.
Communication Enhancing strengths Celebrating successes Overcoming barriers Targeting additional training needs Using motivational interviewing skills within department & not just for clients Branding our message
Kara Mahuron Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
SUPERVISION COMMITTEE
State Adopted Assessment Tools Statewide requirement for all probation, community corrections & Department of Correction agencies Every one trained & certified for using Statewide consistency in scoring & interpretation Statewide consistency in scoring & interpretation Two assessment tools Adult & Juvenile Developed by University of Cincinnati through research Validated for Indiana population
Indiana Risk Assessment System (IRAS) Specific instrument used for adult population Identifies criminogenic (criminal thoughts & behavior) risks Aids in responsivity to client s risk & needs Prepares basis for developing case plans Making treatment referrals Identifying case load assignments Making appropriate court recommendations
Adult Assessment Domains Criminal history Education, Employment and Financial Situation Family and Social Support Neighborhood Problems Substance Abuse Peer Associations Criminal Attitudes and Behavioral Patterns
Indiana Youth Assessment System (IYAS) Specific instrument used for juvenile population Identifies criminogenic risks Aids in responsivity to client s risk & needs Prepares basis for developing case plans Making treatment referrals Identifying case load assignments Making appropriate court recommendations
Juvenile Assessment Domains Juvenile Justice History Family and Living Arrangements Peers and Social Support Education/Employment Pro-social Skills Set Substance abuse, Personality and Mental Health Attitudes, Values, and Beliefs
Ancillary Assessment Tools URICA (University of Rhode Island Change Assessment Scale): Self-Assessment tool to gauge motivation to change. These scores may be useful in guiding treatment and to track the offender s attitudinal shifts related to specific stages of change. CAGE & the CAGE-AID: The CAGE and CAGE-AID is a four-question alcohol and other drugs screening tool. Individuals with elevated scores may need additional evaluation and/or intervention/prevention services. South Oaks Gambling Screen (SOGS): The SOGS is a screening tool for pathological and problem gambling. Tool utilized by all endorsed gambling providers in Indiana.
Ancillary Assessment Tools (continued) Correctional Mental Health Screen for Men (CMHS-M) Correctional Mental Health Screen for Women (CMHS-W) These are brief mental health screening tools designed for early detection of psychiatric illness. The outcome of the tool may assist in determining case assignment. Domestic Violence Screening Instrument (DVSI) The outcome of the tool may assist in determining case assignment. Static 99: Sex Offender Actuarial Risk Assessment. This is an actuarial assessment instrument used to assess adult male sex offenders. This screener is used by the Indiana DOC and parole in the assessment of offenders.
Brier Frasier Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
CASE PLANS Clients with moderate to high overall risk for recidivism receive a case plan. Case plans focus on the 2-3 highest risk domains, especially those which are shown to be criminogenic (Antisocial Attitudes and Beliefs, Peers, etc.). Supervising officers develop and share the case plan with the client. Target areas. The goals for these areas. What the client and the officer do to lower the risk in these areas in specific ways. Case plans update every 6 months to show improvement and to fine tune the interventions.
Becca Streit Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
SUPERVISION TOOLS Offender Motivation for Positive lifelong changes Obstacles Self-Centered thinking, blaming, minimizing, assuming the worse Substance abuse & relapse EBP Tools Cognitive behavioral intervention forms (ie. thinking reports, problem solving) Client & officer addressing needs together
SUPERVISION TOOLS Reinforcers & Sanctions Acknowledging positive thinking & behavior (i.e., verbal praise, certificates, court memo). Timely imposition of consequences related to negative behavior.
Julie Robertson Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (CQI) COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT CQI POLICIES CQI Department Policy on Commitment & Process Why are we doing it? The CQI purpose Flowchart CQI Team Supervisor Team Chief PO Judges/ Advisory Board
CQI FOCUS ON ASSESSMENT Inter-Rater Reliability Policy Immediate Development Need Department has invested in certified trainers Assessment Booster Prepared for mandatory certification Verifying appropriate assessment results to match needs with available resources
Andrew Chandler Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
EXIT SURVEYS Purpose Provides ongoing feedback from clientele to organization. Identifies staff strengths and development. Tool selection Selected an exit survey developed by EBP expert Mark Carey. The exit survey will be used for the entire department.
EXIT SURVEYS Implementation Target of exit surveys will be to all clients. Compilation of feedback will be reviewed by management. Quantitative information will be documented for ongoing evidence of improvement. Exit survey research is underway.
Rachael Scott Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
EBP in Job Performance Audits & Evaluations Reviewed existing performance policy & updated for EBP Created case audit policy & procedure for entire department Supervisor & Officer Consistency in case file management Created case audit checklist Pilot for case audits for both officers & supervisors Review feedback & improve EBP policies for audits & evaluations
Troy Hatfield Deputy Chief Probation Officer Monroe Circuit Court Probation Department
Becoming an Evidence Based Practice Organization Questions?