{"id":467,"date":"2023-05-23T13:35:26","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T13:35:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/?page_id=467"},"modified":"2023-08-23T02:21:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T02:21:31","slug":"writing-the-initial-assessment","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/strengths-based-engagement-and-initial-assessment\/writing-the-initial-assessment\/","title":{"rendered":"Writing the Initial Assessment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The written initial assessment needs to contain the following elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>the participant\u2019s strengths, resources, and service needs, conducted in the language the participant speaks<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>relevant background\/history, as related to service needs or current challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>any concerns the participant and case manager may have<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The assessment determines eligibility for services and evaluates the participant\u2019s willingness and readiness to engage in services. The assessment will provide the basis for the development of the Individualized Service Plan (ISP).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to develop a meaningful assessment document, case managers need to use interpersonal skills to develop rapport. Three key skills include: empathy, active listening, and open-ended questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. <strong>Empathy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/image_empathy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1107\" width=\"225\" height=\"266\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Empathy is at the heart of engagement. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share another\u2019s feelings and perspectives.&nbsp; Even if we haven\u2019t shared the same experience, we can visualize being in their place and feel what they may have been feeling. Empathy is different from sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone\u2019s pain. It is not a bad thing to be sympathetic! But empathy allows us to see the participant\u2019s struggles from their own perspective and is essential for building an effective case management relationship. Ways to communicate empathy include actively listening, being present, listening with an open mind, and asking how we can help rather than giving unsolicited advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>2. <strong>Active Listening<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img-active-listening.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1109\" width=\"247\" height=\"249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img-active-listening.png 560w, https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img-active-listening-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/img-active-listening-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Providing participants with a nonjudgmental space to tell you who they are, share their strengths and challenges, and focus on what they want from your program will create engagement from the start.&nbsp; Active listening is a crucial component for setting the stage for a strong and trusting relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"popLink-Tips\"><a href=\"#active-listening\">Tips and Strategies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>3. <strong>Open-ended Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/open-ended_question_full.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1110\" width=\"224\" height=\"251\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/open-ended_question_full.png 434w, https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/open-ended_question_full-268x300.png 268w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 224px) 100vw, 224px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Open-ended questions<\/em><\/strong> will encourage the participant to share and keep communication flowing. Open-ended questions are those that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Cannot be answered with a yes or no<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are not judgmental, not expecting a particular response<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage the speaker\u2019s expression and exploration<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sample open-ended questions:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>What brings you here today?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is your experience with school these days?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who are you closest to in your family?&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Who are the people that you rely on?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is a challenge that you have overcome? What helped you to do this?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What gives you strength in difficult times?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What support do you want most from our program?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Open-ended questions can also help for gathering personal information in a way that is accepting and nonjudgmental. For example, check out these options for making a close-ended question into an open-ended question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"popLink-try\"><strong><a href=\"#instead-of-asking\">Try This!&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strengths-based assessment is the foundation for Individualized Service Planning because it&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>helps to engage the participant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>identifies strengths and resources that can be mobilized to achieve outcomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>helps to create a team of people to assist with goal attainment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>helps the participant identify successful coping strategies used in the past.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increases self-esteem and motivation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Take a look at the following video from Vibrant\u2019s Case Management Roadmap online learning course to see an example of an effective initial assessment process:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What TO DO in an initial assessment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video controls src=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/V-brant-WHAT-TO-DO-0IYAveyh6RQM_beta-1.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns streetNav is-layout-flex wp-container-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column streetNavLeft is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"prevStreet\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/strengths-based-engagement-and-initial-assessment\/strengths-based-assessment-discovering-strengths-and-resources\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"458\">Discovering Strengths &amp; Resources<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column streetNavRight is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"nextStreet\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/strengths-based-engagement-and-initial-assessment\/initial-assessment-checklist\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"477\">Initial Assessment Checklist<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The written initial assessment needs to contain the following elements: The assessment determines eligibility for services and evaluates the participant\u2019s willingness and readiness to engage in services. The assessment will provide the basis for the development of the Individualized Service Plan (ISP). In order to develop a meaningful assessment document, case managers need to use [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":434,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/467"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/467\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1645,"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/467\/revisions\/1645"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vibrant.familyengagementdycdconnect.nyc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}