Pilot Projects

Before implementing large-scale systems change efforts, entities may engage in a pilot project. Pilot projects can provide several advantages:

• Collecting reliable data on representative sample of service recipients can enhance overall understanding of the population's needs as a group.
• Honing communication strategies with stakeholders to enhance roll out of important implementation information in the future.
• Testing the utility of any customizations  to the SISOnline system.
• Testing the integration capacity with existing IT systems.
• Building local capacity to deliver SIS assessments during the pilot phase.

AAIDD can assist entities define and achieve their pilot goals by providing:

• Reliable, experienced AAIDD interviewers to conduct SIS assessments.
• Reliable, experienced AAIDD SIS trainers to administer interviewer reliability tests to ensure the reliability of assessment data.
• A project lead trainer for overall project administration to include technical assistance and supports, logistical coordination and management for the duration of the pilot project.
• Assistance to the entity in its communication with stakeholders on the philosophy and value-base of SIS, goals of the project, roles and responsibilities of the respondents, and to address common stakeholders concerns.
• Information and problem-solving over the course of the pilot
• Reports on key assessment data and important issues/trends that emerge during the pilot project.
• Training to optimize pilot outcome and system-wide implementation.
• Supervision of schedulers to maximize interviewer availability and scheduling outcomes.