Ravenwood Consulting provides program evaluation and technical assistance for Aid and Assist courts using the National Center for State Courts’ Competency to Stand Trial System Assessment Tool as a guiding framework. Through structured assessment, stakeholder collaboration, and review of current practices, Ravenwood helps jurisdictions identify strengths, system gaps, and realistic opportunities to move local competency processes toward recognized best practices.
Phase 1: Evaluation and Assessment
Ravenwood reviews how the current Aid and Assist process functions in practice through one-on-one stakeholder interviews, collaborative meetings, process mapping, document review, and independent research. The goal is to understand what is working, where barriers or delays occur, and how people move through the system from referral through resolution.
Phase 2: Actionable Plan
Findings are translated into a practical report with prioritized recommendations, realistic timelines, and measurable next steps. Recommendations are developed with local resources, legal requirements, and stakeholder capacity in mind.
Phase 3: Implementation Support and Check-Ins
Ravenwood remains involved as recommendations are implemented by facilitating stakeholder communication, troubleshooting barriers, monitoring progress, and helping teams adjust their approach as needed.
Ravenwood Consulting recognizes that Aid and Assist processes can be confusing when guidance is limited and jurisdictions are working independently. Our goal is to collaborate with courts and system partners to better understand current practices, share lessons learned, identify achievable improvements, and develop processes that are more efficient, coordinated, and responsive to the needs of the people they serve. These improvements can reduce administrative and judicial waste, support better outcomes for clients, and help reduce recidivism by promoting more timely, appropriate, and effective responses.
