Assessing Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory Implementation Outcomes: Lessons from Five Diverse Pennsylvania Counties

Abstract

We examined implementation outcomes several years after rollout of the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) risk/need assessment (RNA) tool in five diverse Pennsylvania county juvenile probation offices. Offices had policies to direct the use of the YLS/CMI, and officers tended to view the tool favorably, complete it, and apply it in their work. However, there were also variations in the extent of implementation. These seemed related to differences in office leadership and climate, implementation and quality assurance strategies, probation officers’ support for reforms, and the broader stakeholder environment. Results are largely consistent with implementation science principles.