Often, I have been asked, “What IS ‘Collateral’ for my Rule 25 Assessment and why do YOU need it?”
Here is my answer.
In order to do a comprehensive Substance Use Disorder/Rule 25 Assessment thoroughly, besides interviewing the client, an assessor needs to contact people and/or agencies that have “relevant and reliable” information pertinent to the person’s situation involving mood-altering substances, otherwise known as alcohol/drugs.
Why?
Because sometimes people will not be totally forthcoming about their substance use issues during an assessment, which may create an invalid assessment.
For the most part, two collateral sources are recommended. An absolute collateral is whoever or whatever referred the individual to obtain an assessment. Examples of referents are an individual’s probation or parole agent, County Child Protection Services , a County Court Administrator, Minnesota Health Professional Service Program, Law Enforcement, or an Employer. Whoever requested, or ordered, the client to get the assessment must be contacted.
There is no wiggle room here.
The second collateral sources can be someone’s friend, family, or attorney, or the Minnesota Public Criminal history. I will expand on the last two. If the assessor can obtain the needed information from the client’s attorney, including citation, complaints, and/or police/sheriff reports, the assessor does not need to contact the individual entities, which saves time.
The Minnesota Public Criminal history is a resource that I use often but ALWAYS review with the person to make sure that the history is actually about them and then to find out how many charges, if any, are related to alcohol or drugs.
If enough information is collected from the client and the first collateral, contact with the second collateral is not necessary.
Family and friends can be used as collateral, but believe it or not, sometimes they will not be completely truthful with the assessor about their loved ones substance use issues.
But before ANY information can be collected through collateral, the individual must sign a Release of Information to any person or agency, giving the assessor permission to contact that collateral. If the person refuses to sign a release, especially to the referring collateral, the assessment would not be complete or valid, and recommendations would not be able to be made, including treatment services.
The only collateral resource that I am aware of that does not require a Release of Information is the Minnesota Public Criminal History as that is public information.
In my opinion, the biggest issue that holds up an assessment from being completed quickly is gathering collateral information.
Hopefully this post has reduced some stress about the process of getting a Rule 25/Chemical Use Assessment.
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