The current proposal, entitled enhancing risk-need-responsivity implementation: an evidence-based system for case management support, is a rigorous demonstration project that tests the degree to which…

This Project Grant award from the National Institute of Justice (CFDA 16.560 - National Institute of Justice Research, Evaluation, and Development Project Grants) provides $1,445,599 to the University of Massachusetts Medical School to conduct a rigorous demonstration project that tests the effectiveness of the Evidence-Based System for Innovation Support (EBSIS) framework in improving the implementation and reach of risk-need-responsivity (RNR)-informed case management for persons of color on probation. The project aims to: 1) conduct a formative evaluation to identify case management support needs and capacity building goals; 2) engage stakeholders to select and deploy EBSIS strategies to enhance case management capacity, implementation, and reach; and 3-4) evaluate the pre-post outcomes of the EBSIS strategy deployment. The award period is from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2027.

The current proposal, entitled enhancing risk-need-responsivity implementation: an evidence-based system for case management support, is a rigorous demonstration project that tests the degree to which a framework from implementation science, the evidence-based system for innovation support (EBSIS), improves risk-need-responsivity (RNR) informed case management capacity, implementation, and reach among persons of color on probation. The overarching project goal is to improve implementation and reach of comprehensive, person-centered, and coordinated case management for those on probation, thereby, closing the care GAP, mitigating treatment and support needs, and improving individual success in the community. Project aims include: aim 1: conduct a formative evaluation of case management support needs that influence implementation and reach among persons of color on probation, identify capacity building goals, and select EBSIS support strategies. Aim 2: engage stakeholders in discussions to address EBSIS strategy fit and capacity issues, select and develop a plan to deploy EBSIS strategies, and implement EBSIS strategies to improve capacity, implementation, and reach of case management. The research team will convene a series of meetings to elicit feedback from people with lived experience in the criminal-legal system as well as probation staff and leadership on EBSIS support strategies. Final EBSIS strategies will be selected, operationalized, defined and designed for deployment. A locally tailored plan to implement EBSIS strategies in probation departments will be developed and the research team will deploy strategies to enhance case management capacity, implementation, and reach among persons of color on probation. Aim 3 & 4: conduct a pre-post EBSIS outcome evaluation to determine whether significant improvements are made post-EBSIS strategy deployment, relative to pre-EBSIS, in case management capacity, implementation, and reach among persons of color on probation. The current proposal will utilize evidence-based recommendations for dissemination by engaging in early and on-going engagement efforts with a probation state agency, contextualizing research efforts to the local needs of probation departments and producing practitioner friendly and scholarly products. The current proposal lays the foundation for a future hybrid type II effectiveness-implementation study that simultaneously tests RNR-informed case managements impact on client outcomes and the utility of EBSIS support strategies for enhancing implementation of RNR-informed case management. CA/NCF