This FREE self-assessment evaluates current understanding of the domains, tasks, skills, and knowledge in the eight domains covered in the Community Resource Specialist certification test. There are 10 questions in each domain, and you must get 80% correct in each area to pass.

Upon completion, Inform USA Learn will suggest other Inform USA courses that will strengthen your knowledge in areas where you did not meet the minimum expectations in the assessment.

This course discusses the nature and implications of stress, stress management, and self-care within information and referral (I&R).

The objectives of this course are:

• Discuss what the Inform USA Standards say about wellness and self-care
• Explore sources of stress for the I&R profession.
• Review the importance of agency wellness programs and their impact on staff well-being.
• Discuss self-care techniques and how it can lead to improved performance.

Learning Concepts and Objectives:

• Describe how Inform USA's standards describe confidentiality
• Understand the difference between confidentiality and anonymity within information and referral
• Learn the importance of data privacy and security
• Understand the limits of confidentiality when abuse, neglect or endangerment situations may be an issue

This course covers all aspects of crisis intervention within an I&R environment. Topics discussed include defining the nature of crisis, the search for coping mechanisms, and the types of crisis generally encountered within I&R. It includes a crisis intervention model and the elements of a suicide risk assessment. The material is primarily geared for front-line staff at I&R services. It is not appropriate for crisis specialists but may be a practical primer for other professionals within health and human services.

Empowerment and advocacy are fundamental principles of information and referral. Empowerment will help individuals both now and in figure situations. Advocacy means assisting people who may need assistance getting the help they need. 

This interactive course is for Information and referral Specialists who handle human service inquiries from the public and the supervisors who oversee this essential work. It describes the nature of empowerment (helping people to help themselves) and advocacy (when people need additional support) within the context of I&R. 

Learning Objectives

When you have successfully completed this course, you will be able to:

1. Define the concept of empowerment within an I&R environment.
2. Describe the meaning of advocacy in I&R.
3. Identify situations in which advocacy is necessary.
4. Recognize the difference between individual advocacy and system advocacy.

This interactive course is for new staff at Information and referral (I&R) organizations who will be responsible for handling I&R inquiries, the supervisors who oversee this essential work, and existing staff needing to reacquaint themselves with key principles. The content provides an overview of the activities of an I&R Specialist, a detailed analysis of the I&R process, and the communication techniques required to assist in that process.

It also represents useful preparation for more experienced staff preparing for an Inform USA CRS or CRS—DC examination.

A resource database is a computerized body of information about community resources maintained by the I&R service. The resource database should include what you need to know about community, social, and health organizations to make good referrals, by answering basic questions such as: What does the agency do? Who does it serve? When and how can people apply? What documents might an applicant need to produce? Who provides the service? This course will help Community Resources Specialists understand the basics of, and the strategies behind, effective database searches.

Within I&R, follow-up is the process of contacting clients in order to determine whether their needs have been met as a result of the earlier referrals provided and if not, why not. Depending on the circumstances of the situation and the client, a Community Resource Specialist may choose to follow up with the client to ensure that the primary need of the individual was met. This follow-up is not conducted for every client but is at the discretion of the specialist and/or the policies of the I&R agency.

I&R organizations need to be prepared to play an active role in disaster response. This course introduces the stages of a disaster and outlines the role an I&R may play in each stage. It also explores government and nonprofit organizations that typically respond to and are active in disasters and what resources they typically provide. This course also outlines steps that should be taken to prepare the organization, the technology (including the database), and the individual team members to respond during a stressful and ever changing situation.