Choosing & Using Assessments,
the Intake Process and
Effective Case Management
Liz Shulman, LMFT
Clinical Consultant
Middletown JRB
Middletown JRB
• Small City-Sized Community (population
approx. 50,000)
• Reformed 10 years ago under Middletown YSB
– Discontinued accepting referrals for status
offenses; Only accepting delinquent referrals now
• Multi-layer & Individualized Interventions
• 33 Average Yearly JRB Referrals (since 2011)
• Referral Volume  Importance of using
effective assessment tool
Middletown JRB Process
• Philosophical Background
- Intentionality
- Warm/Welcoming
- Empowerment
- Building Relationships
Middletown JRB Process
Police
Intake Process
JRB Hearing
Path to Successful
Completion
•Orientation/Referral
•JRB Assessment
•JRB Panel & Contract
•Case Management
Structure of JRB Intake Process
• Referral Received from Police/Juvenile Court
• Schedule JRB Assessment Date & Call to
Confirm
• Formal Letter Mailed Home
• Review Police Report/Documentation
• Obtain School Records (MPS Only)
• JRB Assessment
Welcome to
Middletown Youth Service Bureau
Welcome to
Middletown Youth Service Bureau
Intake Process/Assessment
Warm & Welcoming
Refreshments Offered
Supportively Direct Approach
Choosing Assessments
• Previous Tool Used
– Global Risk Assessment Device (Ohio State Univ.)
• Research Process
– Lengthy & Cumbersome Process
– Information Gathering
– Priorities/Key Elements Desired in the Assessment
Tool
• Philosophical Foundation
Choosing Assessments
• Key Elements:
– Juvenile Justice Population
– Comprehensive (i.e. Biopsychosocial)
– Risk & Needs Assessment
– Strength-Based
– Validity Tested/Evidence-Informed Tool
– Ultimately, a tool that would assist in
development of appropriate case
planning/interventions to reduce the likelihood of
a youth reoffending
Youth Assessment & Screening
Instrument (YASI)
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Publisher/Distributor: Orbis Partners, Inc.
Measures: Risk of Recidivism
Population: Juvenile Offenders
Population Age: 12 – 18 year olds
Background Information: Adapted version of the
Washington State Juvenile Court Assessment (late 90’s)
• Current States Using the YASI: *
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New York
- Vermont
Virginia
- Illinois
California (Custody version for youth)
Mississippi
- Internationally
Overview of the YASI
• Pre-Screen vs. Full Assessment
• Number of Items
– Pre-Screen: 30 items
– Full Version: 90 items
• Length of Time (determined by Orbis Partners)
– Pre-Screen: 20-40 minutes
– Full Version: 30-60 minutes
• Cost
– $500/year (Assessment & Case Planning Software)
– $400/person (e-Training for additional staff)
YASI – Content & Style
• 10 Domains
1. Legal History
2. Family
3. School
4. Community/Peers
5. Alcohol & Drugs
6. Mental Health
7. Aggression
8. Attitudes (pro-social & anti-social)
9. Social/Cognitive Skills
10. Free Time/Employment
YASI – Static & Dynamic Factors
• Static: Historical & Unchanging
– Examples: Legal history, family history of
problems, school suspensions, history of trauma,
violent behaviors
• Dynamic: Changeable
– Examples: Positive & negative family influences,
attitude toward education, lack of empathy or
receptivity toward change, deficits in problem
solving/interpersonal skills, positive & negative
peer influences, adult role models
– *Focus on these for Interventions/Case Planning
YASI
PRE SCREEN
Paper Version
YASI/CaseWorks Software
Full Assessment Results/Narrative
YASI – Case Planning
Effective Case Management
• Assessment Tool
– Serves as a catalyst for effective case management
– More knowledge of the youth, the better able to
identify appropriate interventions and services
– Collateral Contacts
• Existing
• Any New Referrals
YASI Implementation
• Training by Orbis Partners, Inc.
• e-Training Option
• Training Components
• Customization
• Orbis Partners, Inc. can customize the software to meet
individual community/user needs
• More Information
• http://orbispartners.com/assessment/youth-assessmentyasi/
• Contact Liz Shulman at 860-854-6030 or lizslmft@gmail.com
• This PowerPoint Presentation will be available on
the CYSA Website:
– http://www.ctyouthservices.org/