Final Report: Development and Implementation Project for the Youth Needs and Progress Scale (YNPS)

• NCJ Number: 254814
• Author(s): Robert Prentky; Sue Righthand; James Worling; Tamara Kang
• Date Published: June 2020
• Length: 168 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2016-AW-BX-K004
• Agencies: SMART-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description

Annotation

This is the Final Report of a project with the objectives of 1) developing a dynamic intervention needs and progress scale to assist service providers in identifying risk relevant intervention needs; 2) developing individualized, responsive intervention plans; and 3) monitoring progress in response to effective interventions.

Abstract

The project developed and tested an evidence-informed Youth Needs and Progress Scale (YNPS) for assessing mainly dynamic risk and protective factors, as well as limited experimental historical items empirically associated with sexual and non-sexual reoffending by juveniles with sex offenses and identifying related intervention needs associated with those factors. A second goal was to develop a data-entry software program that enables evaluators to rate risk-relevant factors in their initial assessment and reassessment, so they can design intervention or case management plans, monitor progress, and assess readiness for discharge with periodic reassessments. The scale was tested with 300-500 youth at multiple sites across the United States, and the reliability and validity of the YNPS items were examined. The scale was revised accordingly to produce a final version of the YNPS and revise the data entry program. Sites were provided with training on the final version of the YNPS. The pilot site feedback led to improvement and refinement of the pilot version of the scale and the development of the final version. This version is an empirically informed dynamic needs and progress scale. Project findings indicate that the YNPS can assist in identifying specific intervention needs that can be included in individualized management and case plans. Reassessment using the YNPS can identify behavioral change to guide case and intervention planning. Ongoing empirical validation of the YNPS is the next step. 19 tables 10 figures, and 70 references