|
Step 9: Develop Staff
Staff involvement and cooperation are vital for implementing any program change. Staff roles, attitudes, and comfort in performing their jobs may be affected by developing a substance-testing program.
Staff resistance to implementing a substance-testing program often is related to program expectations, such as:
- Additional paperwork to comply with rigorous chain-of-custody procedures and program evaluation.
- Observed specimen collection.
- Confrontation of drug-involved youth.
- Additional work in managing cases when youth need treatment and other services.
Staff enthusiasm may increase with program benefits, such as:
- More accurate information about youth to assist in case management and intervention.
- Drug-testing results to help overcome youth's denial of drug use.
- Data collected from a drug-testing program to document the need for additional treatment resources.
Staff Empowerment
Staff involvement in the program planning and development process is recommended. Staff at all levels are stakeholders in the program and should be included in the process. In addition, agency administrators can facilitate effective teamwork and staff cohesion by:
- Working with staff to set clear objectives and achievable goals for the program.
- Establishing effective procedures for conducting the program.
- Maintaining constructive communication among team members.
- Allowing the team latitude to solve problems and grow with their responsibilities.
- Providing training programs to help members perform their duties proficiently.
- Recognizing and rewarding excellent job performance and allowing the team to share in the success of the program.
TOP
Staff Responsibilities
A substance-testing coordinator should be designated to oversee the program. Depending on the size of the program, this may or may not be a full-time responsibility. Responsibilities of the coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Assisting in development of policies and procedures for the program.
- Handling contract negotiations and renewals for program instruments and supplies, and recommending and implementing changes when needed.
- Acting as a liaison between contracting agencies, ensuring that contract obligations are fulfilled, and seeing that rendered services are satisfactory.
- Taking steps to solve problems.
- Coordinating training opportunities for staff.
- Making budgetary decisions in compliance with agency policy.
- Monitoring legal issues, such as court challenges and requirements for testifying.
- Assisting in evaluating the program design and implementation and analyzing results regarding the substance-testing program.
Staff of the program will have an array of responsibilities. The primary ones include the following:
- Advising youth of the testing program and the procedures that will be taken.
- Collecting specimens.
- Following all chain-of-custody procedures.
- Operating instruments, using test kits, or sending specimens to laboratories.
- Complying with all procedures to maintain quality control.
- Communicating results to youth and handling results properly within the agency (e.g., filing, entering in log).
- Testifying in court, if necessary.
- Completing all program evaluation procedures.
TOP
Staff Training
To successfully implement a testing program, staff will need to participate in training to acquire an array of information and skills. Training content should include:
- Information about adolescent drug use.
- Effects of various drugs on youth.
- Program purpose and agency mission.
- Discussion of legal issues.
- Testing methodology and how it works.
- Use that will be made of results.
- Program policies and procedures, such as scheduled or random testing, frequency of testing, observed specimen collection, chain-of-custody procedures, confirmation of positive results, cutoff levels, and health and safety requirements.
- Intervention strategies, including graduated sanctions and rewards.
- Conflict management.
- Program evaluation procedures.
TOP |
