NCJ Number
84036
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Project New Pride staff in Denver discuss the creation of Individualized Integrative Service Plans (IISP) for clients. The IISP's are modeled on the idea of individualized education plans but include a counseling component for psychosocial learning as well as academic work.
Abstract
For each client, the IISP is created at the formal staffing session which concludes the informal 2-week assessment period. The IISP stipulates annual goals and specific shorter range objectives, all of which are referenced to the clients' needs assessment. Both counselors and teachers draw up objectives. Counselors are concerned with objectives that may require referrals to health or employment-related agencies, as well as family objectives. Timelines are required for each objective; the plan is flexible and objectives can be added, deleted, or modified. Objectives must specify observable behaviors, criteria for their measurement, and conditions under which they are to be achieved. It is advisable to understimate client performance capabilities and measure progress by small increments; this provides accountability for the counselor and avoids counselor burnout. Meeting basic needs (clothing, shelter, food) is an important part of what reintegration services should be providing to clients. Individual projects will have to respond to their particular clients' priority needs. Denver staffers testify to the positive group dynamics of their program.