The Family Development Matrix Pilot Project

The Family Development Matrix Pilot Project is a three-year collaborative effort of:

• The Institute for Community Collaborative Studies, California State University Monterey Bay
  
  
• Strategies. A consortium of training and technical assistance centers offered through Interface Children Family Services of Ventura County.
  
  
• The California Department of Social Services Office of Child Abuse Prevention
  
  
• The Pathways Mapping Initiative (PMI) of the Project on Effective Interventions at Harvard University.

Learn about an exciting new project known as the Family Development Matrix Pilot Project. This project will help an individual agency and countywide networks of family support agencies to partner with their local child welfare agency and utilize the Matrix as a tool for developing shared outcomes. The Institute for Community Collaborative Studies provides an easy method to develop an agency’s program outcomes using a web-based system. The web based “Matrix Creator” guides the family support program to:

Customize a Matrix model that fits the program population

• Online access to indicators and measurements being used in Matrix programs from California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Ohio
• Validate and assure reliability of indicator measurements

Train staff to use the Matrix model with the service population

• A manual on the Matrix outcomes model: how it works with family involvement and family support principles,
• Interviews for ongoing family assessments,
• Computer display of family strengths and areas of concern,
• Case planning using a Family Empowerment Plan,
• Track changes in family outcomes, program, agency and network outcomes,
• Charts for reports to funders and program improvement.

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.

Matrix Model Contact: Jerry Endres, Director, Institute for Community Collaborative Studies, 831.582.3624, jerry_endres@csumb.edu, http//iccs.csumb.edu/community/matrix/