Justice system professionals require quick access to evidence-based resources to enhance outcomes for people involved in the justice system.
Using the best-known, credible studies and research, Carey Group has developed a suite of evidence-based resources for criminal justice and behavioral health supervisors and line staff. To improve and optimize outcomes for vulnerable adults, a combination of web-based tools/technology, training, and criminal justice firm consulting are recommended.
Integrating Technology with Traditional Practices for Behavioral Change
Whether working in an urban or rural setting, utilization of web-based tools increases the effectiveness of justice professionals by allowing direct and real-time access to information and management resources, including risk reduction and intervention tools, courses, and software to help shape behavior. In addition, it also assists with overcoming barriers such as lack of transportation and having to miss work.
For behavior change and recidivism reduction to be possible, individuals with justice involvement must be able to identify and understand the factors contributing to their negative behavior. Individuals must also be able to identify and develop the skills that will support positive change in the future.
Available in English and Spanish, Carey Group’s Carey Guides/eGuides are designed to equip staff with the information and tools they need to support changes among people with justice involvement. Recognizing that justice professionals carry heavy workloads and have limited extra time throughout the day, the Guides are practical and easy to use. They’re designed to help staff effectively implement evidence-based practices (EBP) using a series of strategies and tools that are quick and to the point.
Following a consistent format for familiarity, 14 of the Carey Guides address criminogenic needs, and 19 Carey Guides focus on common case management issues. All Guides include research findings and information that support the implementation of evidence-based practices. Each guide also contains worksheets, aka tools. With the assistance of a justice system professional, individuals can use the tools to understand their strengths, gain insight into their thinking patterns, and work on skills that will help them make healthier decisions that are essential to their success. In total, the Carey Guides contain 100 tools for justice professionals to use as they support people in their efforts to build skills and make positive changes in their lives.
“I work for a community corrections agency as a Gender Responsive supervision agent. I work with high-risk women clients. I use the Carey Guides as part of the 10 steps to risk reduction. I have used the guides for many years as a cognitive intervention in my client meetings. I believe the only way to change behavior is by “changing thinking, which changes feelings, which changes behavior.”—Community Corrections Agency Employee
Brief Intervention ToolS (BITS) are available online and designed for use in short, structured interventions that teach people skills that will help them make positive life choices with a focus on these key life areas: thoughts and beliefs, coping/self-control, friends, family/relationship, substance use, work, school, and use of free time. BITS are user-friendly, short, one-page (front and back) documents that can be used on their own or as a supplement to the Carey Guides. They are designed to be both versatile and situational, promoting teachable moments, targeting problematic behavior patterns in youth and adults, and focusing on risk reduction.
Carey Guides and BITS are available in three formats: hard copy, electronic (Carey Group Digital Library license required), and interactive (Carey Group’s Tools on Devices, or TOD). The utilization of electronic and interactive formats offers unique benefits, including the ability to access agency dashboards and produce reports reflecting tool usage.
“BITS are utilized to help youth become unstuck, identify the area that needs to be addressed, determine the cause of the problem, and explore personal options to help with the area of concern. The BITS help the youth get their minds working and think in ways they may not have had to do before. We enjoy how the BITS are short and simple while helping the youth explore areas within themselves.”—Juvenile Justice Agency Employee
Encouraging prosocial behavior while simultaneously preventing and managing noncompliant behavior is made easier with the Carey Group’s 4:1 Behavior Management System (BMS)®. The 4:1 BMS® contains internal logic and can be customized to reflect agency policies, procedures, and methodologies. Key software features include the ability to:
- Determine consistent and appropriate responses to noncompliant behavior, taking into account a person’s level of risk, the severity of the behavior, the person’s criminogenic needs, and the purpose of the response (accountability vs. behavior change)
- Determine appropriate responses to prosocial attitudes and behaviors, taking into account their relationship to a person’s criminogenic needs and the level of mastery and habituation of the behavior
- Identify the conditions under which a departure from the presumptive response range is appropriate
- Managers can quickly run a variety of reports to understand the frequency of behaviors and responses, the ratio of behaviors to responses, the time lapse between behaviors and responses, the frequency of behaviors by risk level, the frequency of specific behaviors, and the use of behavior-specific responses.
The Guides, BITS, and 4:1 BMS® are just a few of the evidence-based resources available from Carey Group. While the resources are designed to be intuitive and easy to use, training and consultation specific to the implementation and ongoing use of evidence-based resources will likely enhance staff’s confidence and improve the effectiveness of the tools.
Evidence-Based Training and Consulting Solutions
Expert-developed, evidence-based, tailored staff training sessions empower and enhance the skills and knowledge of professionals working in the justice system, child welfare, behavioral, and mental health sectors.
From orientation to ongoing professional development and service-delivery, providing a variety of evidence-based training sessions is critical. Initial/onboarding is one of the most impactful times for justice system professionals to focus on agency culture and commitment to helping people succeed.. Implementation of evidence-based practices is another time in an employee’s career when training can ensure clarification, access to tools, resources, and other agency support.
The Carey Group offers virtual, in-person, and eLearning training formats that can be customized to best meet agency needs and practices. The e-learning platform provides a range of on-demand courses that employees can participate in at times that work best for them. The Carey Group also offers train-the-trainer opportunities and booster training courses.
In addition to providing evidence-based training, to achieve desired results, public and private entities must be evidence-based and evidence-informed in policies and practices. For more than two decades, Carey Group professionals have provided agencies with clear and specific strategies and techniques for efficient and effective evidence-based implementation. The Carey Group offers customized consultation in:
- Understanding the basic principles of evidence-based practices (EBP)
- Asserting an organization’s readiness to implement EBP
- Developing a strategic EBP plan with internal and external stakeholders
- Defining a time-specific implementation plan for EBP
- Coaching staff in EBP skills
- Coaching managers and supervisors in EBP leadership skills
Additionally, Carey Group offers organizational assessment and development services to address common challenges faced by justice system professionals. Applying strategic thinking and planning, consultants will assess an organization’s readiness for change, manage that change, and evaluate the progress made in achieving the desired change. The Carey Group’s quality assurance (QA) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) services guide agencies in their efforts to establish intentional and structured quality reviews, coaching, and other improvement processes designed to reinforce desired practices and to identify and redirect practices that are out of alignment with the desired behavior.
The Carey Group core value, “Practitioners helping practitioners,” ensures a training and consulting approach backed by decades of firsthand experience in the application of evidence-based knowledge, practices, and procedures.
By combining technology and resources with evidence-based training and consulting, justice systems are better able to improve outcomes with vulnerable populations, reduce recidivism, and enhance public safety.
Related Reading from Carey Group
Evidence-based Training and Consulting
Empower Community Care eLearning Courses
Connect with a Carey Group Consultant
Carey Group’s evidence-based online training and consulting services address the needs of the justice system and behavioral health professionals. Training is an essential tool for keeping staff, supervisors, leadership, and stakeholders up to date with emerging knowledge and expectations for improved outcomes. Working closely with Carey Group professionals, agencies are better able to offer a mixture of in-person, online, and self-directed courses on evidence-based practices, motivational interviewing, core professional competencies, case planning and management, continuous quality improvement, coaching, and the use of behavior-change tools and supervisor resources. Talk to a Carey Group consultant today, to get started!