Many agencies conduct assessments, but they don’t always have the tools, resources or insight to follow up with effective interventions. As a result, important information from assessments often goes unused or underused in guiding interventions. For agency leaders, the imperative is clear: it’s time to audit and enhance the bridge between assessment and action.
Here are some ideas for getting started:
1. Examine your current workflow.
After your staff complete a risk and needs assessment on a client, what happens next? Is there a structured case-planning process that takes those results and assigns interventions accordingly, or does the data sit untouched in your system? Identifying these workflow gaps is the first step. For example, you may discover that while assessments are done reliably, the link to referrals or program placements is weak or inconsistent.
2. Provide options.
If officers lack an easy way to know which programs and interventions address which needs, consider crafting simple checklists that ensure each criminogenic need has at least a few associated actions and interventions. These may include programs offered by your agency, community resources, self-directed assignments or “at the desk” interventions to engage clients.
3. Align trainings with workflow gaps.
Make sure officers are trained not just in administering assessments but in using the results to drive case plans. That might involve scenario-based exercises where officers practice creating tailored supervision plans from sample assessment profiles.
4. Be collaborative.
One of the best ways to increase buy-in with clients is to collaboratively develop intervention goals with them. APPA’s national standards state that people on supervision should understand how their assessment results tie into their case plan and conditions (APPA, 2021). Give clients choices about which interventions they would like to try after understanding their need areas.
5. Leverage technology.
Finally, consider leveraging technology to make the process of identifying interventions easy. The Atlas digital platform, outlined on the next page, is one helpful tool for mapping needs to interventions.
When clients get the right help at the right time, desistance from crime and community safety will improve. Agencies that can bridge the gap between assessment and targeted interventions will not only align themselves with federal guidance and best practices, but will position themselves as leaders in the field.
Download the whole content offer here: White paper - Bridging the Gap Between Assessment and Action: Turning Risk-Need Scores into Tailored Interventions
Evidence-based, behavioral health Interactive Journaling® curricula are available digitally on Atlas. Atlas can save staff time while supporting fidelity to evidence-based practices.