RISK-NEEDS-RESPONSIVITY APPROACH
Integrating Risk Management and Growth Facilitation
We can combine risk management with growth facilitation. The RNR model is based on a risk management approach that has three principles:
- Assess youth’s risk to reoffend;
- Target criminogenic needs directly related to the youth’s offending; and
- Match services with pertinent characteristics of the youth (e.g., mental health issues, reading level, etc.).
Integrating risk management with growth facilitation, behavior management with identity change, happens at the level of the Probation Officers day-to-day work across phases of the GFCM framework.
- Self-Exploration Informed by Risk Assessment: Case Plan Long-Term Goal
- Self-Discovery Informed by Criminogenic Needs: Case Plan Short-Term Goals
- Self-Efficacy Informed by Responsivity: Case Plan Action Steps
- Self-Realization Informed by Responsivity: Monitoring, Updating, Transition Planning
Extra paperwork and computer work are not involved. Rather, what’s involved is extra thought. It is about doing RNR work in a manner that also facilitates growth. This means using RNR information to inform Interaction with the youth; and Case plan development.
A benefit of this integration is that it keeps genuine engagement with the youth in focus amid what can sometimes be time-consuming and distracting tasks of RNR work.
