The Family
Development Matrix Pilot Project
The Family
Development Matrix Pilot Project is a three-year collaborative effort
of:
Project Purpose
The purpose
of the Family Development Matrix Pilot Project is to provide
Family Resource Centers and Family Support Agencies with an array of
Matrix Outcomes Model resources to better enable them to partner with
local Child Welfare agencies in the facilitation of better outcomes
for children and families. A special focus of the project is work with
families at risk involved in differential response activities at the
county level.
The Institute
for Community Collaborative Studies will integrate the Matrix Model
with Family Resource Agencies and their county Child Welfare partners,
who will refine the language, structure, and guidelines of the tool
as they apply it to their programs, especially for Path 1 & 2
differential response families.
Through
the use of the Matrix Model we expect the programs of the Family Resource
Agencies will become more:
- accessible
- accountable
for results
- collaborative
- community
based
- comprehensive
- culturally
sensitive
- integrated
- family
focused
- prevention
focused
- school
linked
- tailored to individual, family and community needs, strengths and
outcomes.
The Family
Development Matrix is the specific outcomes tool each Family Resource
Center will use to provide measures of outcomes. The Family
Development Matrix is a strength-based
case management tool. It works by assessing where to start and set
goals with families, charting family progress and assessing the effectiveness
of services.
The Matrix
Creator is a web-based service offered by the Institute for
Community Collaborative Studies, which enables organizations to design
a custom Matrix evaluation tool to meet their specific needs. Organizations
may use either the established Matrix outcome categories and indicators
or categories and indicators previously developed by the organization
itself. Online training is provided to help Family Resource Agency
staff use the Matrix Model with service populations. Once their Matrix
evaluation tool has been designed, organizations can store and track
their program’s
Matrix data on the Institute’s
online system.
The Pathways
Mapping Initiative (PMI) of the Project on Effective Interventions
at Harvard University will construct a Pathway to the outcome
of "Children in Safe, Stable, Nurturing Homes". The Pathway
will emphasize knowledge that can be acted on to prevent child abuse
and neglect. The goal of the Pathway will be to reduce the number and
rate of children under age 8 entering the formal Child Welfare System.
The Pathway will provide a conceptual framework and information about
effective actions. This information will be provided on the Pathways
website to inform partners at the county level engaged in achieving
the Outcome of “Children
in Safe, Stable, Nurturing Homes”. PMI staff will work with
OCAP, and other partners identified by OCAP, to develop a strategy
to facilitate utilization of the assembled information by county coalitions
and intermediaries, such as technical assistance providers like the
Institute for Community Collaborative Studies.
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