Case Manager Attributes Enhancing Success of Community Corrections Programs: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this pilot study was to identify and explore specific attributes of case managers in community corrections facilities contributing to clients successfully completing the rehabilitation program. It was hypothesized that staff with certain personality characteristics would result in more efficient implementation of community corrections programs, incorporating higher responsivity and lower staff turnover. Case managers (N=11) completed a Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) Questionnaire and peer evaluations. Clients (N=130) completed a survey evaluating their case manager on several job-related characteristics. Time to Change (TTC) administration also provided success rates for each case manager (i.e., the percentage of clients who successful completed the residential program under the guidance of identified case managers). Essentially, results indicated certain personality traits, as measured by the 16PF (e.g., workplace coping, interpersonal skills, liveliness, rule-consciousness, openness to change, and tough-mindedness), are more likely to affect in-treatment change and posttreatment outcomes within community corrections programs. Knowledge of case manager factors affecting in-treatment change and post-treatment outcomes can assist in a more comprehensive understanding of programmatic factors to promote efficient use of limited community corrections resources. It is recommended future research involve a larger sample size to produce more robust results