Proper Use of StepOne Online

StepOne Online (StepOne) provides an objective approach to screening by directing a parent, informant or rater’s responses in a reliable manner to specific questions supported by meaningful scales that are associated with clinically valid content. This approach minimizes inferences and biases that create errors in omission or the overemphasis of behavior and historical information that can create errors in conclusion. Information sources or "informants" completing these questionnaires must know the child, be capable of reading the questionnaire and they must answer all mandatory questions. A limited number questions can be answered "Don't Know" for the results to be potentially valid. Failure to correctly answer questions provides a less reliable and therefore less valid and useful report.

Use of StepOne Reports

• To provide screening and education in behavioral, emotional and mental health problems.

• To identify behaviors associated with psychiatric disorders.

• To identify patterns of behavior associated with specific behavioral, emotional and psychological problems that are not psychiatric disorders.

• To identify individuals who exhibit specific behaviors associated with a risk of violence, injury, accidental death or suicide.

• To monitor and evaluate treatment plans, progress or deterioration in behavior.

• To provide users with education and recommendations for seeking qualified consultation and evaluation.

• To help document a child’s history, behavior, problems and needs.

• To support parents, caretakers and professionals seeking information and resources for youth with emotional, behavioral and psychological problems.

• To provide guidance and options for professionals conducting interventions for youth at-risk.

Qualification of Raters (Informants)

The StepOne screening questionnaire can be completed by one or more persons. The primary requirement is that information sources must have at least 4 weeks of exposure to the subject and a reliable history of the child's health care, education and social experiences while growing up. It is important that the rater have sufficient exposure to and awareness of the child’s behavior in social, school and home-like settings. Informants typically include guardians, parents, step-parents, residential staff, group home leaders and foster parents. In all cases, it is important for the user to review the results with an appropriate and qualified professional such as a psychologist, social worker. psychiatrist, family physician, educational consultant or counselor.

Inappropriate Use of StepOne Questionnaires and Reports

StepOne reports are not a professional evaluation and do not substitute for professional consultation, evaluation and recommendations. The reports generated provide reliable, and useful information that can help these users recognize problems, seek appropriate information, obtain qualified consultation, locate treatment and make decisions regarding care. The results should be reviewed with an appropriate and qualified professional health care, mental health or education professional.

Exclusions

Intervention surveys and report services provided by InCrisis are for children 11 to 17 years old. InCrisis services were not standardized for and therefore should not be used if the child suffers for any of the following:

• Severe physical handicaps, including but not limited to the following: blindness, paralysis, deaf...

• Significant physical defects, including but not limited to the following: missing limb, cerebral palsy, paralysis, muscular dystrophy...

• Severe medical problems including but not limited to the following: diabetes, cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seizures, aides, internal organ damage or defects...

• A medical condition requiring continuous medical monitoring.

InCrisis services should not be used if,

• This child has been in a residential program, in detention or in a controlled environment over the past 4 weeks for more than 2 days.

• The informant has a reading disorder.

• English is the informant's second language and they have any difficulty reading or understanding written English.

• The informants has not interacted with and observed this child for at least 4 weeks.

• The informant does not know this child or this child’s history.

Dated: December 12, 2008