701B Comprehensive Assessment Instrument

Since early 2010, the Department has been working with assessors, case managers, physicians, researchers and experts to revise the 701B Assessment Instrument. The goal of this project was to improve the assessment instrument by better addressing the needs of our clients and improving the validity and reliability of the form.

Public comments were collected from September 2011 through April 2012 on this instrument. These comments have been carefully considered by the Department, and although all of the submitted suggestions, revisions and comments could not be incorporated, the Department thanks all who have provided input into the new assessment. 

Currently, the Department has contracted with the University of Florida Survey Research Center to have the revised instrument properly formatted for ease of administration, and is in negotiations with a vendor to develop custom training materials to assist staff with understanding changes to the form. 

The revisions to the 701B have initiated a series of changes to smaller assessment tools, and prompted a discussion about how these changes to the instrument might effect the manner with which the Department prioritizes individuals placed on the waitlist, or the priority score. The priority score calculation is an important component of the prioritization method that ensures those most in need of services are served first. This score is composed of information collected during the assessment, and is calculated in the Client Information and Registration Tracking System (CIRTS). Fortunately, the scored items on the instrument have not substantively changed, so the score for most clients should not be affected by the new instrument. Please click here to view the priority score calculation.

When the Department has a final instrument for consideration, there will be a scheduled and noticed rule adoption hearing announced in the Florida Administrative Weekly, and posted here on our website.