Different Strokes for Different Folks: Lessons Learned and Applied in Working with Community-based Treatment Providers

• In Event: Where are we going, and where have we been? Program Quality and Matching Services

Abstract

In 2013, 2015, and 2017, the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence (ACE!) was tasked with providing training and technical assistance to federal grant recipients who were required to use the RNR Simulation Tool. Through our work with the two initial cohorts of grantees (2013: n=13; 2015: n=17), we developed a series of lessons learned that we then applied to our work with the 2017 cohort of grantees (n=11). For example, the initial training for the 2013 and 2015 grantees was provided to the group as a whole, without the opportunity to work with the grantees one-on-one. We found that grantees would benefit from more personalized training and technical assistance at the start of the grant period; therefore, we planned support visits to the 2017 grantees that would take place much earlier in the process and that would incorporate instructional materials that took into consideration their existing policies and processes. This paper will explore the various lessons learned, how we adapted our training and technical assistance methods to improve the support we provided to the 2017 grantees, and what the results were from the improved support processes.

Authors

• Amy Murphy, George Mason University

• Faye Taxman, George Mason University