Stepping Up Readiness Toolkit

Table of Contents

Click on a section to jump to it.

Stepping Up

• Initiative Overview
• County Readiness Model
• Stepping Up Domains
• Capacity Levels

Entry Level Capacity

Building Capacity

High Capacity

Sustainability Planning

Entry Level Capacity

Counties who identify as entry level capacity may be early in the process of establishing their readiness to implement Stepping Up for the first time, or those who previously implemented Stepping Up and are re-engaging in the initiative. Additional information on getting started can be found in the Stepping Up  Coordinator Handbook.

Organizational and County Partnerships

A strong foundation of this work begins with effective partnerships with community agencies, including local jail staff, mental health providers, and more. Entry level counties may have no or minimal partnerships in this area with their community agencies. Developing these relationships could begin with sharing Stepping Up materials, scheduling introductory meetings, or sharing preliminary data to facilitate understanding and engagement with Stepping Up and the county’s work more broadly.

Data Collection Capacity

Data collection will ensure that the prevalence of individuals with behavioral health needs in jail is being tracked over time. Entry level counties may not have a standardized tool or process for collecting data, they may just be starting to collect data, but the process is inconsistent, and/or they may have low buy-in for data importance or staff capacity to collect data. To ensure robust data collection processes, the organization and its community partners must first understand the value of data collection for supporting their goals; and staff must then be provided with training and tools to collect the data reliably.

Data Cleaning and Analysis Capacity

Counties can build capacity by strengthening their ability to clean and analyze data in ways that support meaningful use of the findings. Counties may be entry level if they do not have the necessary tools or staff to clean and analyze data and/or if they are not currently engaging in cleaning and analysis tasks. Ways to support completion of data tasks include designating a trained staff member responsible for these activities and by creating clear documentation of processes to ensure they are replicable on a regular cadence. While data analysis may sound complicated, when starting out it can be as simple as documenting counts, percentages, demographic groups, etc., using tools such as Excel or Google Sheets.

Reporting Capacity

Reporting data in a clear and timely manner is important to share progress and drive decision-making. Counties at entry-level capacity may be uncertain about their reporting needs and goals and/or they may not currently have a process for reporting back to community agencies and partners. To support strong reporting, the county and its partners must first recognize the value of reporting their data and have a vision for how these reports will be shared and used. Once there is buy-in, staff can be trained to support reporting. As with data analysis, data reporting can be simple and use methods such as dashboards in Excel, or narrative summaries created in Word.

TA and Process Improvement

Technical assistance (TA) and process improvement are important aspects of ensuring strong implementation. TA supports may include sharing resources and templates, providing tailored training to staff, and or being available to troubleshoot emerging issues. Counties in the entry level stage may not see the need for technical assistance or process improvement or may not have the necessary staff capacity to engage in these processes. While counties in the entry level capacity stage may not be focused on technical assistance and process improvement, many of the services and supports that technical assistance agencies (such as The CSG Justice Center) offer are highly beneficial to getting an initiative off the ground and sustaining it. Understanding what technical assistance is available allows counties to engage where they can strengthen their skills and supports.

High Capacity

Counties who are high capacity may be implementing Stepping Up for the first time after building a strong foundation, counties that have already been implementing Stepping Up, or counties who already are, or are looking to become Stepping Up Innovator Counties*.

Organizational and County Partnerships

Counties in the high capacity phase have strong, long-standing trust-based partnerships with their internal leadership, as well as community partners. This may include regular communication, data sharing, and shared decision-making that considers the various factors impacting their shared community work. While there may still be room for growth in these relationships, or additional connections a county would like to establish, counties are supported by community partners and have shared goals that are being addressed by their efforts. At high capacity, counties may also collaborate with other counties in the state to share learnings and understand other local implementation efforts.

Data Collection Capacity

In addition to these partnerships, high capacity counties have robust data systems and protocols in place to support ongoing data collection. These counties are using validated screening tools that are appropriate for the population and the work they are doing, and that are consistently administered. Staff have knowledge of these systems and tools and have a process for integrating them into their work. Agencies have detailed training materials on how data processes are utilized so there is documentation for refresher trainings or in case of turnover. Additionally, several staff are trained in data collection to ensure there are no gaps in capacity.

Data Cleaning and Analysis Capacity

At high capacity, counties have detailed protocols built into their work. Counties also have strong staffing, such as one or more dedicated data analysts who are responsible for handling all analytical tasks. At this stage, counties also have clear data documentation such as data cleaning scripts and data dictionaries to outline their processes. Counties may also use more advanced tools to analyze their data. While tools like Excel and Google Sheets are sufficient and can be used as needed, there are more advanced statistical software options, such as SAS, SPSS, R or Stata which can make complex analysis easier and more replicable. High capacity counties may also use tools like Power BI or Tableau to create dashboards for presenting data.

Reporting Capacity

In addition to increased capacity in data analysis, high capacity counties have strong reporting procedures. High capacity counties regularly provide reports to both internal leadership and community partners. These reports are standardized and available on a regular cadence or for ad-hoc requests. In addition to these reports being available, they are also used to inform decision-making. Regularly sharing and reviewing reports supports counties in tracking their progress, identifying areas for change and focusing initiative and community resources where they will be most impactful. Decision making based on shared data helps build rapport and trust with partners and strengthens the impact of the initiative.

TA and Process Improvement

While high capacity counties may not need as much ongoing technical assistance, these counties can still utilize any available resources that may support their work. High capacity counties may also be well positioned to support counties at the entry level and building capacity stages as a TA provider, this may include collaborating with other counties implementing Stepping Up to share data and discuss processes, or engaging with counties who are not yet implementing the initiative. At high capacity, counties can spend additional time engaging in continuous quality improvement by having integrated processes like surveys or regular data auditing to self-assess any potential areas for improvement. Counties can reflect on how they can best work with their community partners and other initiatives in their community to address priority areas. This integration of efforts will ensure the best wraparound services to improve overall community well-being.

*Innovator Counties are those who demonstrate they have a process for obtaining and tracking accurate, accessible data on serious mental illness in their jails to leverage this baseline data for tracking their Stepping Up goals. Read more information on innovators, including how to become one.