Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, program fidelity and integrity are critical to program success so it is important to follow the curriculum as designed. Following are some best practice recommendations:

• Use two trained facilitators,
• Deliver two sessions each week,
• Target the right clients, these are medium- to high-risk offenders,
• Ensure that each client in the group has the opportunity to try every skill during the class,
• Ensure that clients complete the intersession homework
• Make sure all clients receive feedback.

It is also important that the program be completed from beginning to end due to the integrated nature of the program.

Thinking for a Change is copyrighted by its authors Jack Bush, PhD, Barry Glick, PhD, and Juliana Taymans, PhD, with certain rights retained by NIC.

The National Institute of Corrections reserves the right to reproduce, publish, translate, or otherwise use, and to authorize others to publish and use all or part of the copyrighted material contained in this publication for any federal government purposes. Parties other than NIC are not authorized to sell or use these copyrighted materials for commercial gain except with the explicit permission of the authors. 

For more information, see NIC's Copyright page at https://nicic.gov/copyright.

No, NIC does not currently offer a Certified Facilitator Credential.

No, NIC recommends that facilitators complete a Thinking for a Change train the trainer program before they train others. Program fidelity and integrity are critical to T4C program success so it is important that staff are qualified to train other trainers.

Published: 
2024-06-18 

The National Institute of Corrections offers Thinking for a Change Training for Trainers to qualified criminal justice professionals or qualifying government contractors. NIC does not offer training to private or non-profit organizations. NIC's T4C T4T is a 73-hour blended learning event with 5 weeks of interactive online training culminating with three and half days of on-site training at the National Institute of Corrections Academy Division in Aurora, CO. 

Blended Learning Experience (Online Learning & Face to Face Learning) 

• Online Learning: The virtual instructor led training (VILT) sessions will be online twice a week for the first 5 weeks 
• Face to Face Learning: The 3 and half day instructor led training (ILT) will be @ National Corrections Academy, Aurora, CO. 

Please click here to add your information to the interest list for Thinking for a Change - Training for Trainers. 

To find out more detailed information about T4C T4T including a sample training agenda and pre-requisites click here: T4C T4T homepage.

Thinking for a Change (T4C) is not designed to be used with individuals assessed as low-risk; rather for those identified as medium- to high-risk. If you choose to use the lessons as you describe, we ask that you do not call the program T4C, because such changes (use with a different population or in a different manner) violate the fidelity of the program as it was designed and evaluated.

NIC does not currently have the T4C curriculum available for distribution in languages other than English. Agencies who are delivering T4C are strongly encouraged, based on their client population needs, to have the English version of T4C 4.0 translated to ensure fidelity in the curriculum's delivery to non-English speaking participants.

NIC has been building out a library of our publications. You can install the free Libby app to borrow and enjoy digital titles from our library on your tablet or smart phone. Visit your device’s app store or app.overdrive.com to get started. OverDrive is also available via all web browsers on devices, including computers (Windows and Mac).

Find and save our library’s OverDrive collection in the app. If accessing our collection via a web browser, visit our digital collection URL: https://nic.overdrive.com

Browse the collections or search for your next great read. Borrow or place a hold on a title. You’ll need an account on the NIC website to complete this step.

Borrowed titles will appear on your Loans page on the library’s OverDrive website.

From here, you can:

• Download titles to the Bookshelf in the Libby app to read anytime anywhere.
• Read or Listen to some titles directly in your web browser without downloading.
• Borrowed titles will automatically return at the end of the lending period.
• You may also return titles early to free up space in your library account.

The NIC Information Center is a resource for those working in the field of corrections, and the assistance it provides (searching the library, locating resources, and providing referrals) is available at no cost.

The Information Center is not staffed to provide legal advice, directly assist offenders/ex-offenders, or friends and family of offenders. Only limited support is available for students, educators, and consultants.

In many cases, copies of the material can be sent or loaned to you. In other cases, we can send you copies of relevant portions of materials.

There is no charge for having the NIC Information Center provide these materials, but there are some limitations on the quantity of hard copy materials that individuals or agencies can request at a single time. Our staff can provide specific information for you if you have questions about this policy.

Most questions are answered within one business day, but we work hard to make sure that we answer all questions within 5 business days or less.

In most cases, material is sent via US Postal mail and you should see it within 7-10 days. International and priority shipments will vary in shipping time. Items on backorder will be shipped as they become available.

Note: With our migration to a primarily digital catalogue, we have removed the Add to Cart button for any product that has been converted to a digital form (PDF, streaming audio or video). Only products that have not yet been converted are available for order. You can order physical NIC products by creating an account on our website and placing items in your cart.

Completed and signed travel forms, along with any documentation, must be emailed to NICTravel@bop.gov

Mail completed fee vouchers to the NIC office that coordinated with you for the work: 

• NIC Academy Division,
  11900 E. Cornell Ave., Unit C,
  Aurora, CO 80014
   
• NIC Prisons, Jails, Community Services, Research & Information Services, or Administration Divisions, 
  320 First St. NW, Room 5002
  Washington, DC 20534

The forms are available for download and duplication from our TRP Resources page.

Our current travel contractor is Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT). Listen carefully to the prompts. Press #1 for new reservations; press #1 again for NIC, which will allow you to speak with a travel agent.. You must have the program number ready to provide the travel agent. If CWT hasn’t received the authorization to book your flight, you may not be able make your reservation. Their phone number is 1-866-530-0062.

Contact the NIC staff person who is authorizing your travel if you have any questions.

Yes, CWT can assist you with car rental and hotel reservations. If a credit card is required for the reservation, you will have to provide one to the agent. NIC does not pay these costs up front.

The voucher form covers your fees for preparation, travel, on site work, and report writing in addition to miscellaneous expenses, such as phone, secretarial duties, printing, and postage/shipping. 

The travel and per diem claim form covers any travel-related expense, such as baggage fees, parking, tolls, hotel, car rental, taxi or shuttle service, and gas. 

If you have expenses other than these please contact the NIC staff person who is authorizing your travel.

If you want to change your travel arrangements to something other than those originally authorized, you must receive authorization from NIC. If the change is for personal travel, NIC is not permitted to authorize the changes (per federal travel regulations). You will need to make those changes directly with the airline once the tickets are issued. You are responsible for any costs related to the change.

The NIC Learn Center can be found here: https://learn.nicic.gov/

Please bookmark this new url as this is the correct address and will not change.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we upgrade our online Learn Center.

NIC’s TA services are paid for through funds provided to the agency by Congress to support the work of the agency. Typically, the requesting agency will be expected to provide meeting space, or other relevant information, and necessary access to facilities or agency staff.

No, NIC cannot provide funding for keynote speakers at a conference. However, NIC can provide training at a conference, providing it meets our initiatives.

NIC’s TA application form and other paperwork to initiate a TA engagement will stipulate all the conditions regarding receiving TA services from NIC. For example, the expectations for the TA regarding when it will start, how long it will last, the level of agency support expected from the requestor, what services NIC will provide, and how the TA engagement will conclude may be included along with other information. Typically, the requesting agency is expected to complete a detailed assessment (and, in some cases, a follow up assessment) to discern the effect of the TA services.