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Statewide IDAP overhaul standardizes intake, fees and virtual delivery; pilot intake uses Qualtrics
Summary
Department staff described a standardized, statewide redesign of Iowa’s Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP) on April 11, including a unified intake form in ICON, a flat $600 program fee with SSI/SSDI waivers, and pilot electronic intake using Qualtrics.
Department staff presented a multi‑district redesign of the Iowa Domestic Abuse Program (IDAP) on April 11, describing a year of work to standardize intake, fees and delivery across all judicial districts.
"Before we got together to develop our new program, we had eight different judicial districts doing different things," Dawn Hansen, field services manager in the CBC division, told the board. She said a cross‑district team used Lean process methods to identify inefficiencies and create consistent statewide standards.
What changed
- Intake and technology: The team created one standardized intake form housed in ICON (the DOC offender management system) and piloted an electronic intake using Qualtrics in several districts so a client can scan a QR code or receive a link, complete intake immediately and be contacted for enrollment "within a couple of days." Presenters said the statewide Department of Management contract discussions may allow broader rollout of an electronic solution.
- Fees and equity: The IDAP team recommended a flat $600 program fee in all districts beginning July 1, with automatic fee waivers for clients who provide evidence of SSI or SSDI. The team removed "pay to stay" policies that in some districts required payment to remain in the program. The receiving district collects fees when clients transfer.
- Case management and closure: The program established standards for closing cases: for example, coordinators will run NCIC checks and, where judges agree, cases may be absolved after five years without a violent offense. Presenters said they sought judicial and county‑attorney support for that approach.
- Programming and delivery: The group aligned curricula and integrated active‑curriculum elements into IDAP statewide, standardized document language (embedding Iowa Code and DOC policy links), added mandatory reporter training, and set a quarterly CQI (continuous quality improvement) cadence.
Why it matters
Presenters said standardization reduces barriers for clients moving between districts, improves timeliness of enrollment, and frees staff time to focus on treatment rather than administrative tracking. The team said virtual delivery has extended access for outlying counties and eased geographic barriers.
Implementation status and next steps
Staff reported pilots underway in the Sixth, Third and Seventh districts and said implementation requires district buy‑in and technical contracting. They requested continued executive support for adjustments during rollout and pledged quarterly reviews to refine standards.
Ending
Board members praised the cross‑district collaboration. Staff said they will continue to monitor outcomes and report back to the board as the standardized program and technology tools are rolled out.
