SBIR-STTR Award

The American Correctional Association has requested course materials targeted to prison personnel to assist in the management of large and growing numbers of older adult inmates. Creative Action, Inc. proposes to develop the Prison Information Resource Library (PIRL), an innovative system designed to deliver state-of-the-art education to staff of correctional institutions through Distance Learning. PIRL will include a series of modules, the first of which will be developed in Phase I. Module One will look at the aging process in general and the needs and care requirements of older inmates in particular. This module will focus on a general overview of gerontology and geriatrics. A computer-based infrastructure will be developed to allow potential learners/customers to access the module as an internet-based course. Additional modules will be de eloped in Phase II. The ability of correctional facility staff to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for completing PIRL modules will enhance the marketability for Phase III: commercialization. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: In the United States there are currently 1,600 state and federal correctional facilities, plus 1540 private facilities. In these facilities there are approximately 120,000 staff members, including wardens, assistant wardens, superintendents, and guards. A one-day training session for CEU credit would cost a facility approximately $3,000. To train all of the staff in the facility would require at least three days of training at a cost of approximately $9,000. At a price of $5,000 for a site license, PIRL will provide the facility with state-of-the-art training available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Assuming a conservative 30% market penetration, we would sell a site license to 526 facilities generating $2,631,000 in revenue. Additional fees may be generated over time with the development and offering of modules on topics related to other groups of prisoners.

The American Correctional Association (ACA) has requested course materials targeted to prison personnel to assist in the management of large and growing numbers of older adult inmates. Creative Action Inc. proposes to continue the development of the Prison Information Resource Library, an innovative system designed to deliver state-of-the-art education to staff of correctional institutions through e-Learning, also referred to as Long Distance Learning. PIRL will include a series of computer-based training modules, the first of which was an overview of the topic developed as a prototype and successfully tested for feasibility in Phase I. In addition to this general overview on the aging process and aging in prison, an additional nine modules will be developed to specifically focus on critical issues and subtopics. These will include the following: Types of Aging; Prisoner Typology; Profiling Aging Prisoners; Dementia Identification & Support; Social Supports and Depression; Chronic Illness Identification & Support; Mental Health & Organic Illnesses; Managing ADL's/Long Term Care Options; Innovative Activities; and Administrative Regulations & Application in the Field. A computer-based infrastructure, which was developed as a prototype and successfully tested for feasibility in Phase I, will be fully developed in Phase II applying the latest e-Learning technology. PIRL's strong marketability to correctional departments and institutions lies in its innovative application of e-Learning technology to efficiently and effectively deliver highly relevant, timely training to staff on site. Further adding to PIRL's strong market potential will be the ability of correctional staff to obtain Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for completing PIRL modules as the product is commercialized in Phase III.

Thesaurus Terms:
Internet, Aging, Computer Assisted Instruction, Correctional Institution, Education Evaluation /Planning, Educational Resource Design /Development, Health Education, Information System, Psychological Aspect Of Aging, Training Continuing Education, Criminology, Curriculum, Dementia, Functional Ability, Geriatrics, Mental Health Education, Social Support Network Behavioral /Social Science Research Tag, Clinical Research, Focus Group, Human Subject, Questionnaire