In recent years, tablet-based cognitive-behavioral interventions have gained significant traction as a valuable tool for both staff and participants. These interventions offer numerous benefits, addressing many of the challenges faced in traditional justice services settings. Here’s a look at why digital interventions are becoming an essential component of modern programming for incarcerated and other justice-involved populations.
Tablet-based interventions can help accommodate staff shortages.
A pressing issue in the field of justice services is the shortage of trained staff. This hurdle can make it particularly challenging to designate staff to facilitate programming. Digital interventions can provide support in the following ways:
- Addressing demand for risk-need-responsive programming
High demand for programming and long waitlists are common pressures for justice service staff. Digital interventions can provide immediate education, support and skill-building, even when providing in-person programming is a challenge.
- Cognitive-behavioral skill-building
Consistent delivery of evidence-based concepts like cognitive-behavioral approaches can be a challenge when working with a range of staff backgrounds and experiences. Digital interventions can enhance fidelity to the delivery of evidence-based practices and improve client outcomes.
- Streamlining session planning and documentation
Digital tools can assist staff with session planning by providing easy access to data on what participants have worked on outside of sessions. This allows staff to tailor their session time more effectively.
Tablet-based interventions can increase client engagement.
Engagement is critical for client satisfaction and overall outcomes. Digital interventions can help participants feel more engaged and involved in their behavior change process by doing the following:
- Utilizing relevant multimedia resources
Multimedia resources such as video, audio, and guided prompts can make the learning process interactive and bring key concepts to life. This is particularly true when videos capture the lived experience of other individuals who have dealt with similar problems and gone on to lead successful and joyful lives.
- Tailoring interventions to individual risks and need areas
The importance of individualized programming for behavior change is well understood, but it can be challenging to execute in practice. Digital tools can recommend resources and interventions based on a person’s specific risks, needs and goals, providing a more personalized approach. Digital interventions can help fill idle time with skill-building, thereby improving prosocial behavior and site safety.
- Providing immediate feedback and support
Digital resources can be accessed anytime and anywhere, breaking down barriers related to location, time of day, security level, whether in-person support is immediately available, and other limiting factors on site. The ability of digital tools to provide encouragement and positive feedback is also valuable – such features can help motivate participants to keep working toward their behavior change goals.
Tablet-based interventions can provide valuable insights.
Digital tools can collect and analyze data on client progress, engagement and outcomes, providing valuable insights that can refine and improve interventions over time. Additionally, it's important to ensure that digital platforms are tablet-friendly and secure.
Getting started with a digital behavior change intervention
Digital justice services interventions offer a number of benefits that can enhance the quality and accessibility of programming. By accommodating staff shortages, increasing engagement and providing real-time data, such tools have the potential to transform the landscape of behavior change.
Interested in learning more about how these tools drive impact? Check out Atlas, a platform that empowers justice and treatment agencies to effectively manage, deliver and scale person-centered, evidence-based programming.