Assessment Center Outcome Reporting Network (ACORN)

The Assessment Center Outcome and Reporting Network (ACORN) initiative was established to create standardized performance and outcome measures for Assessment Centers nationwide. By developing consistent metrics, the National Assessment Center Association (NAC) and the Assessment Center community can better assess the impact of prevention, diversion, and early intervention efforts. This initiative is a critical step toward a broad-scale evaluation of the Assessment Center Framework and its effectiveness.

In 2023, the NAC received funding from the State Justice Institute (SJI) to develop and pilot ACORN. In collaboration with the National Center for Juvenile Justice (NCJJ) and Dr. Jeff Kretschmar, the NAC worked with a cohort of six Assessment Centers to evaluate data capacities and capabilities. This pilot helped identify opportunities to align performance and outcome measures with the Assessment Center Framework. Click here to read the full report

Supporting the Field in Adopting ACORN

Building on the insights gained from the SJI-funded pilot, the NAC is committed to assisting Assessment Centers in implementing ACORN through the following support services:

Initial Consultation (Members Only) | NAC members have access to a complimentary one-hour ACORN consultation to evaluate their internal data capacity and readiness for ACORN adoption.