Alliance of Information and Referral Systems

ALLIANCE OF INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEMS

CERTIFIED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST-AGING/DISABILITY (CIRS-A/D)

PRACTICE (JOB) ANALYSIS DEVELOPMENT & VALIDATION

Michael Hamm & Associates

Dr. Gerald A. Rosen, Consulting Psychometrician

December 23, 2013

The Alliance of Information and Referral Specialties (AIRS) has undertaken the task of updating and expanding the scope of its Certified Information and Referral Specialist-Aging (CIRS-A) examination to more formally include practice related to disabilities. The product of this effort will be a revised designation called Certified Information and Referral Specialist-Aging/Disabilities (CIRS-A/D). A necessary first step in this process is to update the CIRS-A practice (job) analysis, identifying the domains of practice, tasks performed, and knowledge and skills required for safe and effective performance in this expanded scope. Once in place, these domains, tasks and knowledge and skill statements will form the basis of examination construction in accordance with the weights specified in this report.

On November 21& 22, 2013, a workshop was conducted in Arlington, VA wherein a diverse group of 13 certified subject-matter experts (SMEs) selected by and representing AIRS met to conduct the practice analysis for the CIRS-A/D examination program. (The roster of workshop participants can be found in Table 1.) The workshop facilitators were Michael Hamm and Dr. Gerald A. Rosen of Michael Hamm and Associates. Specifically, the purpose of this meeting was to: 1) produce a document delineating the knowledge required for the safe and effective performance of the tasks carried out by the certification-level I&R aging/disability specialist; 2) identify for each domain and task weighting factors for examination development representing the pooled judgments of the SMEs of their relative importance and frequency of performance; and 3) produce a list of performance domains and associated skills to be used as an adjunct to the process of examination item (question) writing and test construction.

The product of the role delineation workshop was a draft practice analysis/set of test specifications that was subsequently returned to AIRS for further review and comment by the Committee. As a result, several corrections and clarifications were made to the draft.

Table 1

Practice Analysis Workshop Participants, November 21-22, 2013 - Arlington VA

Name / Credentials / City / State/ Province / Organization / Position / Yrs Exp
Amala, Raquel / CIRS-A / Portland / OR / United Way / I&A Specialist / 20+
Anderson, Holly / CIRS-A / Jasper / TX / Area Agency on Agency / Director / 29
Brown, Angela / MSW, CIRS-A / Washington / DC / National Assoc. Area Agencies on Aging / Program Assistant / 3
Danner-Gulley, Deborah / RN, CM-C, CIRS-A / Williamsburg / OH / Area Agency on Aging, District 7 / LTC Programs Director / 21
Gipson, Ronnie / BAT, MURP / College Station / TX / Brazos Valley Council of Governments AAA / Program Manager / 28
Gorman, Bob / BS, CIRS-A / Naugatuck / CT / Community Choices / I&R Coordinator / 16
Harvey, Olivia Marlow / BS, QIDP, QMHP, CIRS-A / Wise / VA / Junction Center for Ind. Living / Options Counselor Coordinator / 7
Osborne, Mary / MSW, Gerontology, CIRS-A / Washington / DC / National Assoc. Area Agencies on Aging / Manager Eldercare Locator / 15
Tribe, Sara / BA, MSW, LCSW, CIRS-A / Washington / DC / National Assoc. of States United for Aging & Disabilities / Director, National I&R Support Center / 9
Welton, Christine / AS, CRS, CIRS-A / Fort Myers / FL / Area Agency on Aging for SW FL / Client Services Director / 8
Wildman, Anne G. / BSW, LSW, CRS / Florence / KY / Northern KY Area Development District / Director / 15
Williamson, Sharon / BSW, MPH, Cert. Health Educ Spec, CIRS-A / Savannah / GA / GA Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disability / Aging and Disability Program Specialist / 25
Yee, Matthew / MHA, MBA, CIRS-A / Peoria / IL / Central Illinois Agency on Aging / Director, Information Resources and Supportive Services / 10

Because the product of this workshop represented the work of a limited number of individuals working at a single, two-day meeting, the decision was made to validate the practice analysis. (The practice analysis document can be found in Table 2.) The practice analysis validation process consisted of a survey of practitioners from the various regions of the United States. The database for the survey was the complete list of 2,100 certified I&R specialists maintained by AIRS. All of the individuals listed in the database were invited to participate in the survey. Thus, no sampling of the database was undertaken.

In addition to the draft practice analysis document, participants were provided with instructions for logging on to a website and a set of detailed instructions for reviewing and commenting on the practice analysis and skills set documents. The respondents recorded their responses to the survey questions on the host website. They were asked to review the practice analysis document and: (1) identify those domains, tasks, knowledge or skill statements they would like to remove, reword, or revise; (2) suggest any new domains, tasks, knowledge or skill statements that they would like to add to the practice analysis; and (3) confirm or suggest changes to the domain weights. (The complete survey results including the demographic characteristics of the survey respondents can be found in Appendix A.)

TABLE 2

CERTIFIED INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SPECIALIST - AGING/DISABILITIES

JOB TASK ANALYSIS

This Document represents a delineation of the tasks (T) performed together with the knowledge (K) and skills (S) applied by Certified Information and Referral Specialists -Aging/Disabilities in the practice of their profession. Information and Referral Specialists – Aging/Disabilities are human service professionals whose communication skills, creative thinking and problem-solving skills provide the critical link between client needs and community, health and social services. They respect and support client rights to self-determination as they provide person-centered information, assistance and advocacy for older adults, persons of all ages with disabilities, and their caregivers.

Domain I – Rapport (18%*)

T-1 Establish and maintain rapport by welcoming clients according to their preferred mode of communication, explaining your role as an I&R Specialist, actively listening, and responding in a manner and tone appropriate to the situation.

The safe and effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:

K-1 Techniques for establishing and maintaining rapport (e.g., empathy, validation, sensitivity, receptivity/leadership)

K-2 Active listening techniques (e.g. patience, responsiveness, paraphrasing, supportive silence)

K-3 Techniques for recognizing and appropriately responding to cultural, ethnic, aging, disability, and other demographic differences

K-4 Techniques for responding to emotional states of clients (e.g., empathy, de-escalation, reassurance, support)

K-5 Techniques for working with challenging behaviors

K-6 Diverse modes of communication (e.g. social media, interpreters, assistive technology)

Domain II - Screening/Assessment (20%*)

T-1 Determine the nature of the call (e.g., information provision, information and referral/assistance, eligibility screening, crisis), problem/need(s), and the emotional state of the client.

The safe and effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:

K-2 Active listening techniques (e.g. patience, responsiveness, paraphrasing, supportive silence)

K-4 Techniques for responding to emotional states of clients (e.g., empathy, de-escalation, reassurance, support)

K-6 Diverse modes of communication (e.g. social media, interpreters, assistive technology)

K-7 Techniques for effective questioning (e.g., open-ended and clarifying questions)

K-8 Interviewing techniques, including motivational interviewing when applicable

K-9 Signs and symptoms of crisis situations and abuse/neglect

T-2 Explain the need for and obtain demographic and other information relevant to the client’s situation and presenting problem.

The safe and effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:

K-3 Techniques for recognizing and appropriately responding to cultural, ethnic, aging, disability, and other demographic differences

K-6 Diverse modes of communication (e.g. social media, interpreters, assistive technology)

K-7 Techniques for effective questioning (e.g., open-ended and clarifying questions)

K-8 Interviewing techniques, including motivational interviewing when applicable

K-10 Available services and their key information elements (e.g. eligibility, documentation required, application method, location, hours of operation, languages of service, transportation access, private payment options)

K-11 Principles associated with client confidentiality

K-12 Basic knowledge of government programs and services (e.g. Medicare, Medicaid, veterans, state, local)

T-3 Determine the need for additional information gathering and service provision (e.g. home visit, evidence-based risk screening, Options Counseling).

The safe and effective performance of this task requires knowledge of:

K-3 Techniques for recognizing and appropriately responding to cultural, ethnic, aging, disability, and other demographic differences

K-6 Diverse modes of communication (e.g. social media, interpreters, assistive technology)

K-7 Techniques for effective questioning (e.g., open-ended and clarifying questions)

K-8 Interviewing techniques, including motivational interviewing when applicable

K-13 Basic knowledge of surrogate decision makers (e.g. power of attorney, guardianship, advance medical directives) and associated processes/documentation

T-4 Determine the actions previously taken, if any, assistance previously received, and the results of the actions and assistance in order to refine the list of possible resources and the assistance that may be needed.