Hot Trends in I&R – Part 1

Big changes are happening in the I&R industry – are you keeping up? Becoming familiar with trends can help I&R leaders improve their organizations and secure new contracts.

This blog post is the first of two entries that describe hot trends in I&R. To see a full list of trends, check out our white paper — 5 Hot Trends in I&R.

Hot Trend #1: Chat and Text

Text-based I&R is the fastest growing trend in I&R right now. Through text and chat, I&R service providers are landing new contracts, serving larger populations, and establishing
themselves as forward-thinking organizations.

Probably the most important benefit of text and chat is that it helps service providers remain relevant in a digital world. New media is shifting the way people communicate, and many phone-based services face obsolescence. Youths especially stay away from phone conversation, and cell phone voice-minute usage rates continue to decline overall.

However, that doesn’t mean you should leap right into chat right away. Many organizations that start up chat programs underestimate the cost. While the software and hardware can run as low as $2,000, other expenses such as training, program development, and staffing frequently go unaccounted for. On average, a chat program will cost between $40,000 to $60,000 per year to support a limited, daytime schedule. Steep, but necessary for longevity.

Action Item: Don’t Get Left Behind

To get started with a text/chat program:

• Contact AIRS. Ask about the recently completed document called Beginner’s Guide to I&R Chat. This guide is the most
comprehensive resource to-date on the subject.

• Don’t reinvent the wheel. If you try to build a program from scratch by yourself, you’ll waste a ton of time and money.

Instead, gather research on the subject and network with individuals from organizations with a chat program already in place. Additionally, you may want to seek out I&R consultants that offer free consultations for basic chat/text questions.

Hot Trend #2: Specialized I&R

Many service providers are adding specialized I&R programs to their list of services. Specialized I&R refers to services that are more in-depth and that focus narrowly on a special need or population.

These programs are becoming very popular with I&R service providers, especially since they often come with built-in funding. Further, specialized I&R broadens resource data bases with exclusive referral destinations – such as for specialized clinicians, organizations, and services.

Examples of specialized I&R services include early childhood development programs (like Help Me Grow), chat and phone lines for veterans (like the Florida BrAIve Project), and resources for local populations. The services typically include special requirements for providers, such as specific training for specialists, technology requirements, and deeper resource-networks of professionals.

Action Item: Specialize for High Dollars

If you are interested in adopting specialized I&R programs:

• Become familiar with state and federal interests. There is a considerable amount of potential revenue attached to special interests, such as healthcare reform, disaster management, etc. If you identify an interest, be prepared to negotiate.

• Visit the Help Me Grow website. You may want to consider becoming an affiliate for the service. Visit www.helpmegrownational.org to see if there’s a fit.

• Learn about the needs of your county and surrounding counties, and develop an I&R solution. Specialized services for specific populations or regional needs (such as high-school drop-out rates, recidivism, etc.) have high success rates for
winning funding.