Why isn’t NIC making T4C available to everyone anymore?
Answer: Since its inception, NIC has made the Thinking for a Change curriculum widely available with no requirement for training in its use. This distribution practice now flies in the face of evidence based practice, and raises huge fidelity and quality assurance concerns which could negatively impact the program’s effectiveness. NIC is now limiting curriculum distribution only to Governmental Corrections Organizations or their contracted T4C designee, who can provide verification of completion of a minimum of 32 hours of T4C facilitator training.
Does T4C 4.0 require new or additional training?
Answer: No, agencies that have completed facilitator training in any other version of Thinking for a Change can immediately begin to use T4C 4.0. NIC strongly recommends all agencies currently using any other previous version of the Thinking for a Change curriculum obtain and begin using T4C 4.0.
What can agencies do to improve Thinking for a Change outcomes?
Answer: Whether you are just embarking on implementing Thinking for a Change or if your agency has been delivering the program for some time, mounting documentation indicates that evidence-based innovations alone do not create the desired impact; rather they must be supported by evidence-based implementation. Successful implementation and long-term sustainability of Thinking for a Change requires a continued organizational commitment to ensure program fidelity. This is best accomplished through on-going performance monitoring, coaching, training and evaluation of outcome measurements to maintain high level program delivery.