The National Institute of Corrections

is seeking Community Corrections agencies to apply for training and technical assistance in the implementation of the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA)

The National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the Utah Criminal Justice Center (UCJC) seek community corrections agencies that wish to implement the Women's Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) instrument. The suite of Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) instruments are the only validated, peer-reviewed risk/need instruments in the public domain specifically designed by women and for system-impacted women. The WRNA measures women's specific criminogenic needs, as well as strengths, to drive a comprehensive case-plan that targets recidivism through gender- and trauma-responsive treatment and supervision.

To learn more about the WRNA, click on the link: https://socialwork.utah.edu/research/ucjc/wrna/index.php

In partnership with NIC, Dr. Emily Salisbury and the UCJC team seek to identify community corrections agencies interested in implementing the WRNA with justice-involved women. Selected agencies will receive end-user training on administering the WRNA as well support for leadership in building an implementation plan to sustain its use.

Background

The Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) system was originally developed through cooperative agreements between the National Institute of Corrections and the University of Cincinnati in the early 2000s (Principal Investigator: Dr. Patricia Van Voorhis). The suite of WRNA instruments were originally created through research conducted by Patricia Van Voorhis, Emily Salisbury, Emily Wright, and Ashley Bauman. The instrument is now managed by Dr. Emily Salisbury at UCJC, College of Social Work at the University of Utah. 

In partnership with NIC, UCJC will support community correctional leaders and stakeholders in meeting the professional and ethical obligation to understand and implement evidence-based gender-responsive community supervision strategies in order to effectively supervise and treat women.

Overview of Activities: Implementing the WRNA

NIC and UCJC will select community corrections agencies that are committed to implementing and sustaining the WRNA. As such, the application will be two phases. The first phase required completion of an initial application (e.g., Phase I). From the initial Phase I applications, NIC and UCJC will invite agencies that demonstrate a commitment and capacity to fully implement the WRNA to complete Phase II of the application process. This process will provide the detail required for implementation coaching with Dr. Salisbury.

NIC and UCJC will select the final 4-5 agencies from those that are invited to complete the Phase II application. Each site selected will receive end-user training, coaching, and technical assistance (TA) from UCJC over approximately six months; this will include planning and implementation activities. While no direct funding will be provided to agencies selected to participate in the project, pilot sites will receive financial support from NIC for end-users to attend the in-person component of the training as well as the training and technical assistance offered by UCJC. 

Training, coaching, and technical assistance will be completed in four stages (see below).

I: Implementation Planning and Pre-Training Activities

During the application process agencies will be asked to identify 2-3 individuals, site depending, to serve as the WRNA Implementation Team for their site. A planning session will be scheduled with the WRNA Implementation Team for the 4-5 selected agencies to lay the groundwork for the project. UCJC will continue to work with the WRNA Implementation Team at each site to coordinate the end-user training, certification, and technical assistance phases. The NIC and UCJC will provide access to online content and any necessary digitized materials for each agency.

II: End-user Training

Successful implementation of the WRNA requires team members to be familiar with gender-responsive practices and the WRNA instrument. UCJC will work closely with the end-user trainees throughout a hybrid training process: The first half of the training will be completed virtually through a Learning Management System (LMS). The second half will be held in-person in Salt Lake City, Utah. Specific details for in-person training will be provided to the agency in early March. Funding to support end-user trainees with travel to the 2-day on-site training will be coordinated with NIC. In the event that the federal government or the University of Utah restricts travel and in-person training due to the coronavirus pandemic, all training will be delivered remotely.

Additionally, UCJC will use details provided during the application process to guide the WRNA Implementation Team in their plan for implementing gender-responsive practices within the agency.

III: WRNA Certification

During this phase, end-user trainees will each submit an interview recording to demonstrate competency in administering the WRNA. UCJC will review the recordings and meet with each trainee to provide feedback and address questions about gender-responsive practices and the WRNA instrument.

IV: WRNA Technical Assistance

To support the full implementation of the WRNA, UCJC will conduct a series of virtual coaching sessions with the WRNA Implementation Team as well as the individual trainees, who will have submitted additional recordings (e.g., 1-2) that demonstrate competency in administering the WRNA. 

Applications for Participation in the WRNA Implementation

The following information is provided to describe the submission requirements and the work that selected sites will be expected to undertake.

Eligibility

Community corrections agencies at the state, county and city level are eligible to participate in this initiative. WRNA Implementation Team members can include external stakeholders that have a working relationship with the agency. However, end-user trainees must be employees of the applicant agency.

APPLICATION FORM

The link to the Phase II application form is below. Please review the expectations and submission requirements before completing this form.

Expectations and Submission Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate that their jurisdiction offers the following qualities deemed necessary for successful implementation of the WRNA:

• A Demonstrated Commitment to Implement the WRNA: Applicants must describe the agency’s current and previous efforts to be gender responsive, the rationale and commitment to implement the WRNA, the driving factors behind the decision to adopt the WRNA, and anticipated changes or outcomes from this project.
• Support from an Agency Partner(s): Agencies with a formal or informal relationship with an agency partner(s) should describe the nature of the collaboration. The application should indicate the name of the agency partner(s), type of services provided by the agency, the length of the relationship(s), and whether the agency partner(s) will be selected to participate on the WRNA Implementation Team. Please note that end-user trainees must be employees of the applicant agency.
• The Ability to Collect Data and Share Information: Agencies that have the capacity to share information on existing policies, programs, and practices that guide work with justice-involved women will be prioritized.
• Qualified Individuals to Serve as the WRNA Implementation Team: During the Phase I application, applicants identified 2-3 individuals to serve as members of their agency’s WRNA Implementation Team. Ideally these individuals will participate voluntarily and will represent a range of roles and responsibilities within the agency (e.g., administration, executive staff, community supervision officers, program staff, agency partners, and women directly affected who are progressed in their recovery process). Applicants provided each individual’s name, title, agency, contact information, qualifications, and rationale for selection. The WRNA Implementation Team will serve as the liaison between UCJC, agency leadership, and the individual trainees. This team will work closely with UCJC and participate in the following activities: organize the collection and dissemination of WRNA materials, coordinate and schedule the hybrid training, attend the training and Implementation Team meetings. Please indicate on the application if there have been any changes in your selected WRNA Implementation Team members.
• Relevant Staff to Become Certified WRNA End-Users/Assessors: Applicants should designate approximately 5-10 staff to be trained to administer the WRNA. As noted above trainees must be employees of the applicant agency. The number of staff who participate will depend on the agency size. Ideally, all team members will join voluntarily.
• Time for Team Participation: Applicants must indicate a commitment to the WRNA end-user training process and a willingness to give team members the time required to fully participate in the complete hybrid training, which will include virtual and in-person learning components across 6-months. Presentations, assignments, and reference materials introduced during the training sessions will be accessible to team members before, during, and after the training.
• Technology Requirements: The first half of the training and implementation coaching will be delivered virtually in real-time and will require access to NIC and UCJC platforms. Participants, while applying as part of a team, are each required to have a dedicated computer with webcam capacity that they can access during the traditional workday. Additionally, it is recommended that trainees have Google Chrome and Firefox browsers downloaded and available for use. Trainees will need to have permission to watch external video content (e.g., video content from the Vera Institute of Justice) and to submit interview recordings as a private YouTube video submission. Applicants must indicate their understanding of the technology needs for this project and a willingness to register in both NIC and UCJC’s Learning Management Systems.
• WRNA License Agreement: The WRNA is a public-domain instrument. However, there are conditions of use, a license agreement. The WRNA license agreement (signed by the AGENCY highest authority, i.e., Executive, Secretary, CEO) is a required component of the application and confirms your request for consideration. This license agreement is a legal agreement between your agency and the University of Utah to use the WRNA for its intended purpose of assessing risk factors pertinent to justice-involved women. Only those WRNA assessment materials received directly from the University of Utah, and copies made by the agency, are authorized for use by the agency. A license/user agreement issued by the University of Utah must be signed by any interested agency before WRNA training can occur. Access to the LMS course materials and trainee registration will be delayed until the WRNA License Agreement has been fully executed. Selected applicants will be contacted by the WRNA Program Manager to initiate the agreement. The kick-off meeting will be scheduled while the WRNA License Agreement is being processed. As you complete the Phase II application, please consider previewing a draft license agreement: UCJC WRNA License Agreement , and sharing these requirements with your general counsel.

Expected Work Products
NIC expects that the products developed under this project may vary to some degree depending on agency circumstances and needs. However, with UCJC assistance, each site is required to produce the following:

• WRNA Implementation Plan developed by the agency WRNA Implementation Team and supported by UCJC and NIC
• WRNA end-user training certification for 5-10 trainees

Application Process and Timeline
Applications for Phase II must be received by 5 p.m. (ET) on March 11, 2022

• Instructions and web form for transmitting an application for Phase II is contained here: Application
• UCJC will begin to process the WRNA License Agreements for the selected agencies in mid-March.
• Final selection of agencies is anticipated on or around March 15, 2022.

Information Session
Please consider joining Dr. Emily Salisbury for an information session to review the instructions and expectations for the Phase II application.

Date: Monday, February 14, 2022 at 1:00pm ET

Registration Link: https://utah.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJclfuquqjgvGtDGaq5Uxyv6vBLQdjISaoOB

Further Information
For further information about the WRNA project or this selection process, please contact:

Holly Busby, Chief, Community Services Division

National Institute of Corrections
320 First Street, NW, Room 5002
Washington, DC 20534
Phone: 202-514-0098
Email: hbusby@bop.gov