This page provides an overview of how to use the iMPRoVE platform and survey tool to collect and use information on the outcomes and quality of services provided to persons impacted by crime. The iMPRoVE User's Guide provides more detailed information on how to use the platform and the iMPRoVE tool.
If you have not previously signed into the iMPRoVE platform, you will need to enter an email address and basic information about your VSP and submit an account request to the iMPRoVE administrators (see register).
Use the resources available under the iMPRoVE Resources tab to determine which of the six iMPRoVE modules and core outcome measures best reflect your program's objectives and intended short-term outcomes (see iMPRoVE Modules and Outcome Measures).
You'll then need to sign in to the platform and navigate to the Customize Your Survey Tab to select the appropriate module and customize your iMPRoVE survey with additional outcome and quality of service measures (see iMPRoVE Module Selection Wizard for a complete description of available measures).
In rare circumstances, you may need to create multiple iMPRoVE surveys. This may occur if a provider, agency, or organization operates more than one program with an entirely different set of intended outcomes (see Creating Multiple Survey Versions ).
Once you have selected your module and customized your iMPRoVE survey tool, preview the questions to ensure they accurately reflect your intended outcomes of services (see Previewing Survey). You can print a copy of the survey to share and discuss with staff from your program.
Once you are satisfied with the survey content, clicking 'Proceed' from the 'Preview' screen will generate three survey links (see Generating Survey Links):
The survey links are available for you to access under the Access iMPRoVE Tool tab.
Prior to asking a person impacted by crime to complete the iMPRoVE tool, develop a plan for:
Provide the iMPRoVE survey link to all staff who will be responsible for encouraging persons impacted by crime to complete the survey.
How staff message the tool to persons impacted by crime is critical for obtaining participation. Staff should be trained to convey:
For additional training topics see Training Staff on iMPRoVE Administration and Messaging.
A designated staff person pulls up the iMPRoVE survey link on a tablet or computer, asks the adult person impacted by crime or caregiver of a minor person impacted by crime to complete the survey, and provides them with a private space to do so. Alternatively, the respondent can be sent the survey link via email or text to complete on their smartphone or other device.
The iMPRoVE survey is self-administered. It does not collect or track any personally identifiable information from the individual who completes it.
The respondent first answers a question about whether they are taking the survey as: 1. An adult impacted by crime, answering on their own behalf, or 2. A caregiver answering on behalf of persons age 17 or younger or adults who are unable to answer on their own. The version of the survey changes depending on the selection (see Adult Vs. Proxy Versions).
The iMPRoVE survey is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin (Chinese). The respondent can toggle between the language options as they complete the survey.
To understand response rates and who is and is not completing the survey, it is important to collect data on how many iMPRoVE survey links were distributed, so that number can be compared to the number of iMPRoVE surveys completed. If a person impacted by crime declines to complete the survey, the staff person should complete the demographic only version of the survey on their behalf to track basic information about the characteristics of nonresponders (see Tracking Refusals).
Once the respondent presses 'Submit,' the data are securely transferred to the iMPRoVE platform. The data can be viewed in easy-to-read charts through the Data Dashboard tab or downloaded as CSV files through the Download Data tab.
To ensure that answers cannot be linked back to a respondent, access to the raw data should be limited. Charts from the dashboard can be downloaded and shared with staff, community groups, and funders.