OUTREACH WORKERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CRITICAL INCIDENTS: CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION

Abstract

Evidence suggests positive impacts of AIDS/HIV prevention approaches using outreach workers, but few studies have described the approaches taken by such workers to prevent or de‐escalate serious violence. In this study, we used the Critical Incident Technique to elicit descriptions of positive and negative incidents from 53 outreach workers. Chicago CeaseFire workers were asked to describe the background of the incident, action they took, and outcome of the incident. Incidents the workers described as positive were characterized by a strong sense of control, receptivity of parties involved to worker involvement, higher goal achievement, and desirable outcomes occurring for clients. Conversely, in negative incidents, workers described having little to no control, greater severity of violence, and negative outcomes occurring for the clients. Findings suggest certain strategies were associated with greater receptiveness and responsiveness of the involved parties. Implications for training, supervision, and evaluation of other models using outreach workers are discussed.