By: Makenzie Schiemann, M.S., Ph.D., Partner, TNG; President, NABITA
The field of violence risk assessment has evolved significantly over the years, with NABITA leading the way in adapting to current research and practitioner needs. Our latest advancement, the enhanced Structured Interview for Violence Risk Assessment (SIVRA) tool, reflects our commitment to providing the best training and tools available.
Originally developed in 2012, the enhanced SIVRA will be part of our upcoming virtual and in-person certification courses. This version features a refined assessment system focused on 21 risk factors related to violence. A fundamental change in the field is the move from a binary or quantitative view of risk to a more nuanced understanding that requires a comprehensive evaluation of various factors. Our refined risk factors and intervention-driven assessment outcomes reflect this nuance.
The updated SIVRA tool also emphasizes the need for individualized intervention rather than simply categorizing individuals as high or low risk. This approach highlights the importance of connecting people with the right support systems and resources, ultimately helping to reduce the potential for harmful behaviors. Below, I outline the enhancements to the SIVRA tool, the reasons for its development, and the benefits it offers professionals who use it.
The Rationale Behind SIVRA’s Development
SIVRA is a central tool in the violence risk assessment process. Unlike threat assessments, which focus on a specific threat’s credibility and actionability, or psychological assessments, which look for the presence of a mental illness or other mental health concerns, a violence risk assessment comprehensively evaluates the factors that influence an individual’s likelihood of engaging in violent behavior.
The development of SIVRA was driven by the need to provide administrators, particularly in educational and workplace settings, with a reliable means to evaluate potential threats. The tool facilitates detailed interviews, helping assessors make informed decisions about necessary interventions. With its roots in rigorous research, SIVRA continues to adapt, ensuring it aligns with the latest findings and methodologies in violence risk assessment.
Enhancements to the SIVRA Tool
The improved SIVRA tool offers enhanced organization, effectiveness, and usability. Specifically designed as a non-clinical assessment tool, the SIVRA can be administered by any individual trained in it, including members of behavioral intervention teams and school administrators. Its user-friendly design ensures that professionals from diverse backgrounds can easily use it to conduct violence risk assessments.
- Thematic Organization: We reduced the number of assessed risk factors from 35 to 21. This adjustment enables a more focused and streamlined assessment process, aligning with current research and evolving understanding of violence risks. Additionally, we’ve refined the thematic organization of the questions, allowing practitioners to conduct interviews more coherently, leading to more actionable insights.
- Supplemental Materials: We’ve included new supplemental materials, such as a comprehensive user manual, to complement this streamlined focus. The user manual provides valuable insights into the latest literature and research underpinning the tool’s development. It also offers practical strategies for conducting interviews, assessing information credibility, and mitigating potential biases.
- Interview Template: The user guide features a list of sample interview questions designed to facilitate information gathering related to specific risk areas. This interview template assists practitioners in structuring and guiding their interviews while crafting the questions they plan to ask. Interviewers can quickly adapt these questions to suit their style and the unique context of each situation, providing a solid foundation for conducting productive interviews.
A Shift Toward Qualitative Results
In the prior version of SIVRA, assessors conducted interviews and assigned numerical scores to indicate varying levels of risk: low, medium, or high. The enhanced SIVRA focuses on capturing an individual’s need for intervention rather than merely assigning a numerical value to their risk. Instead of labeling someone as high-risk, it articulates the specific risk factor an individual holds and that the individual urgently requires intervention to mitigate the risk.
Previously, individuals received scores of 0, 1, or 2 for each item assessed. The new methodology categorizes risk as “not present,” “partially present,” or “significantly present,” aligning with the prevailing understanding that risk cannot be quantitatively measured but should be evaluated in terms of an individual’s need for intervention and supportive resources.
Visualizing the NABITA Curriculum
NABITA offers a thoughtfully structured curriculum for violence risk assessment training to provide a comprehensive understanding. The path begins with a certification course in Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) Standards and Best Practices for higher education or K-12 settings, which is essential for all BIT members and related practitioners. Then, to gain training in conducting SIVRA evaluations, practitioners complete a two-day certification course for higher education or K-12, focused solely on learning the tool’s applicability and methodology.
Next, participants can enhance their violence risk assessment skills through the one-day SIVRA in Practice course, which provides practical experience by applying knowledge to real scenarios through engaging role-play exercises. This immersive learning environment allows participants to develop effective questioning techniques and gather comprehensive information that simulates real-life situations. Upon completing SIVRA in Practice, practitioners can further refine their skills in the Threat Management course. This one-day skill-building certification course equips them with essential practice in developing and implementing effective intervention plans based on insights from the SIVRA process. This holistic approach ensures that practitioners are well-prepared to address violence risks and connect at-risk individuals with the evidence-backed support they need.
New Insights for Familiar Users
Transitioning to the updated tool will be seamless for professionals already acquainted with the previous version of SIVRA. The core principles and interview structure remain unchanged, facilitating a smooth adaptation process. Although the revised risk factors exhibit subtle differences, users can familiarize themselves with these updates through NABITA’s ongoing trainings.
Train Your Team at the 16th Annual NABITA Conference
At the 16th Annual NABITA Conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, attendees can get certified in SIVRA for Higher Education and K-12, as well as BIT Standards and Best Practices, Threat Management, and more. The conference, on November 17-22, 2024, offers a remarkable networking and skill-building opportunity for all members of your team, with two keynote addresses, 12 featured sessions, topical roundtables, a welcome reception, and an event app to connect with attendees. This year’s event features an exclusive lounge for NABITA Super Members, affinity groups to foster close-knit connections, and learning tracks for K-12, Higher Education, BIT Operations, Case Management, and Safety & Threat Assessment. What sets NABITA’s conference apart are the six pre-conference and post-conference certification courses that offer training on assessment tools and critical knowledge for your entire team. Learn about the Annual Conference and the pre- and post-conference certification courses here.
For more information on the enhanced SIVRA tool, join us for the members-only community event, Talking BITs: Reviewing the New SIVRA Tool, on October 11, 2024. This event is designed to comprehensively review the enhanced SIVRA tool, including its development, key features, and benefits. Not a member? Join NABITA today!