NCJ Number
84033
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
Project New Pride's counseling director in Denver explains the procedures to be followed in the client intake process, based on two sample cases.
Abstract
All referrals are initially made to the project director, who assigns the intake counselor. The intake counselor contacts the referred client's probation officer and arranges to meet with the client and the family at their home for the intake interview, at which time testing appointments are set. The interview is used to explain the program, observe family dynamics, and obtain information that will be useful to others on the holistic team throughout the intake process and beyond. Intake counselors should provide transportation for clients to and from diagnostic testing sessions and notify their schools regarding absences. After diagnostic assessment, a joint staff meeting is held to determine the client's placement either in the project's alternative school or under intensive supervision, and a permanent counselor is assigned to the case. At this point a client is accepted into the program. The intake process should be completed within 2 weeks; careful scheduling is required of the intake counselor, as well as detailed documentation in a series of logs and a concluding narrative summary. Intake paperwork should be done concurrently with other activities. Once familiar with the forms, staff can accomplish the required recordkeeping in about 20 percent of their time. Participants review the various logs, interview forms, and reports from the two sample cases. Detailed records are needed to communicate with all team decisionmakers and to document the project's work with the client for other involved agencies (e.g., the court, schools, etc.) Participants discuss recordkeeping procedures and participate in a role-playing exercise simulating an intake conference.