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VI-SPDAT 2.0 - Individual | VI-SPDAT 2.0 - Family
These are the US versions. For the Canadian versions and all the other great SPDAT resources, check out the OrgCode NationBuilder site.
What is the VI-SPDAT?
- The VI-SPDAT is a “Vulnerability Index - Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Prescreen Tool.” It helps you objectively determine who most needs help.
Best practices and expectations
The VI-SPDAT is a triage tool and not an assessment tool. If you want a full assessment, then use the SPDAT.
It should take you ten minutes or less.
It shouldn’t be administered too often (ideally only once).
It’s just one piece of the puzzle. Families and individuals shouldn’t be reduced to a number.
Questions can be skipped or refused.
Answers are “yes,” “no,” and other one word answers.
If the participant doesn’t understand a question, then clarification can be provided.
For more common misconceptions and mistakes, check out this post by Iain De Jong.
Scientific Criticism
- Assessment and Findings of the VI-SPDAT in Travis County, TX
- Reliability and Validity of the VI-SPDAT in Real-World Implementation
- The Vulnerability of Assessments, A Qualitative Analysis of Housing Professionals’ Experiences with the VI-SPDAT in Minnesota and a Comparative Review of Alternative Housing Triage Assessment