Implementing the Self-Sufficiency Matrix

1. Implementing the Self-Sufficiency Matrix Updated 9/1/2011

2. Staff Training ToolFor Minnesota FHPAP Programs • Based on Abt Associates Training and Michigan’s Implementation

3. Training Overview • What is the self-sufficiency matrix? • Using the matrix assessment • Minnesota implementation • Self-sufficiency domains and flowcharts • Reporting • Next steps

4. Background • One of many assessment tools used to measure need, target services, and evaluate supportive service provision. • First implemented by The Arizona Homeless Evaluation Project and now used by many other states, cities and counties. • This Self-Sufficiency Matrix was tested for validity and reliability.

5. Types of Assessments • Assessments are completed for the head of household • 2 types of assessments: • Entry • Interim

6. The Self-Sufficiency Matrix Two Key Features: • 11 of 18 domains required for FHPAP • Client’s status on each domain is measured on a 5-point scale Note: The domains do not cover every possible life domain. The 5-point scale will not fit all unique situations – choose the closest response.

8. Using the Matrix • Who: Head of household • When: Complete assessments upon program entry then, if still enrolled in program, at 6 months, and every 3 months up to 24 months. • Why: The matrix can be an excellent engagement tool and will provide valuable information on participant needs and outcomes, as well as program benchmarks and outcomes.

9. How to complete the matrix: Different programs have different guidelines: • Long-term Homelessness Programs (LTH) – details explained in separate PowerPoint • Family Homelessness Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)

10. Assessment Timelines - FHPAP • Initial assessments should be completed for all new participants effective July 1, 2011. • The interim assessment should be scheduled for the 6 month anniversary of the participant entry date. • If a household is enrolled in FHPAP beyond 6 months, an interim assessment must be conducted every 3 month thereafter up to 24 months.

11. How to complete the matrix: Entry • At entry: Complete within 3 weeks of program entry. Measure the person’s status before entering the program. • Select only one status level in each of the required domains. • If you or the participant feel that the best score is somewhere between two numbers, score using the lower number.

12. How to complete the matrix: Interim • Interim: Start at 6 months after program entry and then every 3 months until exit. • At program exit • If a household was enrolled in FHPAP less than 6 months, no interim assessment is required. • If a household was enrolled in FHPAP 6 + months, ensure that the last interim assessment was conducted. No exit assessment is required. • Optional: You may conduct an interim assessment when a household exits FHPAP regardless of length of enrollment.

13. Matrix Assessment Tips • The process for completing the assessment may vary. It may be entered directly into the computer or done on paper; in conversation with the participant, by observation and case notes. Do what works best! • After working with a participant for a time, service providers sometimes find that they did not score a participant accurately on the initial entry assessment (because of undisclosed information, e.g., chemical health). Assessment scores should be re-done if the provider discovers new information.

14. Minnesota Matrix Implementation • Minnesota Pilot – select implementation from July 2010 through June 2011. Feedback from users to inform broader implementation. • July 2011 – all LTH programs and FHPAP programs begin matrix assessment. • Data from the matrix will be entered in HMIS. • Reports due twice a year (Feb. and Aug.)

15. Self-Determination and Skills The 18 Domains in the Self-Sufficiency Matrix

16. 1. Housing (Required) • 1. Homeless or threatened with eviction • 2. In transitional, temporary or substandard housing; and/or current rent/mortgage payment is unaffordable • 3. In stable housing that is safe but only marginally adequate • 4. Household is safe, adequate, subsidized housing • 5. Household is safe, affordable w/o assistance, adequate, unsubsidized housing

17. No No Self-Determination and Skills - Housing Is the client housed and not at imminent risk of losing that housing? #1 No Is the housing stable and/or affordable? #2 Is the housing adequate? #3 No Is affordable housingunsubsidized? #4 #5

18. 2. Employment (Required) • 1. No Job • 2. Temporary, part-time or seasonal; inadequate pay; no benefits • 3. Employed full-time; inadequate pay; few or no benefits • 4. Employed full-time with adequate pay and benefits • 5. Maintains permanent employment with adequate income and benefits

19. No No No Self-Determination and Skills - Employment Does the client have a job? #1 Is the job full-time? #2 Does the full-time job pay adequately with benefits? #3 No Is the full-time job permanent? #4 #5

20. 3. Income (Required) • 1. No Income • 2. Inadequate income and/or spontaneous or inappropriate spending. • 3. Can meet basic needs with subsidy; appropriate spending. (If the client is receiving income supports like SSI, but still lacks enough income to meet all basic expenses, use a 3 rating) • 4. Can meet basic needs and manage debt without assistance. (If the client is receiving income supports like SSI, and is able to balance their budget use 4) • 5. Income is sufficient, well managed; has discretionary income and is able to save.

21. No No No Self-Determination and Skills - Income Does the client have income? #1 Is the income adequate to at least meet basic needs? #2 Can client meet basic needs without assistance? #3 No Does client have discretionary income and can save? #4 #5

22. 4. Food and Nutrition (Required) • 1. No food or means to prepare it. Relies to a significant degree on other sources of free or low-cost food. • 2. Household is on food stamps (limited to meet all food needs) • 3. Can meet basic food needs but requires occasional assistance (includes lives at a site with food service) • 4. Can meet basic food needs without assistance • 5. Can choose to purchase any food household desires

23. No Self-Determination and Skills - Food Does the client have food and means to prepare it? #1 No Can the client meet basic food needs without food stamps/food banks? #2 No Can the client meet basic food needs without any assistance? ( #3 No Can client satisfy any food need? #4 #5

24. Food Domain: Food Stamp Use • If the person is using food stamps to meet all or most of their food needs, score at 2. • If the person is just using a small amount of food stamps as a supplement, but otherwise meets most of their food needs through their own income, score at 3. • If the person is not receiving food stamps and can afford to buy food, score at 4.

25. 5. Childcare (Required) • 1. Needs childcare, but none is available/accessible and/or child is not eligible • 2. Childcare is unreliable or unaffordable; inadequate supervision is a problem for childcare that is available • 3. Affordable subsidized childcare is available but limited • 4. Reliable, affordable childcare is available; no need for subsidies • 5. Able to select quality childcare of choice (skip if no age appropriate children)

26. No Self-Determination and Skills - Childcare Does the client have access to some form of child care? #1 No Does the client have access to reliable or affordable child care? #2 No Is the child care unsubsidized? #3 No Can client select any type of child care? #4 #5

27. 6. Children’s Education (Required) (Kindergarten through high school) • 1. One or more eligible children not enrolled in school • 2. One or more eligible children enrolled in school but not attending classes • 3. Enrolled in school, but one or more children only occasionally attending classes • 4. Enrolled in school and attending classes most of the time • 5. All eligible children enrolled and attending on a regular basis and making progress. Skip if no school age children

28. No Self-Determination and Skills – Children’s Education Is one or more eligible children enrolled in school? #1 No Is one or more children attending classes? #2 No Is one or more children attending classes most of the time? #3 No Are all children attending class regularly & making progress? #4 #5

29. 7. Adult Education (Required) • 1. Literacy problems and/or no high school diploma/GED are serious barriers to employment • 2. Enrolled in literacy and/or GED program and/or has sufficient command of English to where language is not a barrier to employment • 3. Has high school diploma/GED • 4. Needs additional education/training to improve employment situation and/or to resolve literacy problems to where they are able to function effectively in society • 5. Has completed education/training needed to become employable. No literacy problems

30. No Self-Determination and Skills – Adult Education Does the client have a high school diploma or GED? Is literacy a serious barrier to employment? No #1 Yes #2 Does the client have the education/literacy skills to function effectively in society? #3 No Has the client completed education/training needed to become employable? #4 #5

31. 8. Health Care (coverage) (Optional) • 1. No medical coverage with immediate need • 2. No medical coverage and great difficulty accessing medical care when needed. Some household members may be in poor health • 3. Some members (e.g. children or disabled) but not all household members have coverage • 4. All members can get medical care when needed but may strain budget • 5. All members are covered by affordable, adequate health insurance

32. No Self-Determination and Skills – Health Care Does the client have medical coverage? Does the client or household member have an immediate health care need? No #1 Yes #2 Does the client or some household members have health care coverage #3 Yes Is the health insurance affordable? #4 #5

33. 9. Life Skills (Required) (use most frequent rating for various skill areas described in the next slide). • 1. Unable to meet basic needs such as hygiene, food, activities of daily living • 2. Can meet a few but not all needs of daily living without assistance • 3. Can meet most but not all daily living needs without assistance • 4. Able to meet all basic needs of daily living without assistance • 5. Able to provide beyond basic needs of daily living for self and family

34. Skill areas to consider in developing a rating. Select most frequent rating from the list below and apply to the overall Life Skills Rating. • Hygiene • Food Preparation • Time Management • Maintain living space • Money Management • Basic Communication including responses to authority • Anger Management 1 = In Crisis 2 = Vulnerable 3 = Safe 4 = Building Capacity 5 = Empowered

35. Life Skills Examples • A man doesn’t know how to cook, but has a partner who does all of the cooking. Even though he may earn a “1”, this is not a crisis situation overall. All other ratings reflect good knowledge. The case manager decides the overall rating is “4” with a need for him to improve in this area. • A person has good ratings in all areas but money management. However, the degree of crisis generated from that single issue has resulted in homelessness. The person is anxious to improve and most issues can be addressed with training. The case manager wishes to recognize both the significant deficit and the desire to change and gives a “3” rating.

36. No Self-Determination and Skills – Life Skills Can client meet some basic living needs without assistance? #1 No Can client meet most basic living needs without assistance? #2 No Can client meet all basic living needs without assistance? #3 No Is client able to provide beyond basic living needs to self (and family)? #4 #5

37. 10. Family/Social Relations (Required) • 1. Lack of necessary support from family or friends; abuse (DV, child) is present or there is child neglect • 2. Family/friends may be supportive but lack ability or resources to help; family members do not relate well with one another; potential for abuse or neglect • 3. Some support from family/friends; family members acknowledge and seek to change negative behaviors; are learning to communicate and support • 4. Strong support from family or friends; household members support each other's efforts • 5. Has healthy/expanding support network; household is stable and communication is consistently open

38. No Self-Determination and Skills – Family Relations Does client have support from family or friends? #1 No Do family/friends relate well and are active in changing negative behaviors? #2 No Does client have strong support from family/friends and do family/friends support one another? #3 No Is the support network expanding? #4 #5

39. 11. Transportation / Mobility (Required) • 1. No access to transportation, public or private; may have car that is inoperable • 2. Transportation is available (including bus) but unreliable, unpredictable, unaffordable; may have car but no insurance, license, etc • 3. Transportation is available (including bus) and reliable but limited and/or inconvenient; drivers are licensed and minimally insured • 4. Transportation (including bus) is generally accessible to meet basic travel needs • 5. Transportation is readily available and affordable; car is adequately insured

40. No Self-Determination and Skills – Transportation / Mobility Does client have access to transportation? #1 No Is the transportation is reliable? #2 No Is the transportation generally accessible and/or convenient? #3 No Is the transportation affordable? #4 #5

41. 12. Community Involvement (Optional) • 1. Not applicable due to crisis situation; in "survival" mode • 2. Socially isolated and/or no social skills and/or lacks motivation to become involved • 3. Lacks knowledge of ways to become involved or new to community. • 4. Some community involvement (church, advisory group, support group) but has barriers such as transportation, childcare issues • 5. Actively involved in community (church, etc.)

42. No Self-Determination and Skills – Community Involvement In the client in crisis mode? No Does client have the skills, motivation and knowledge to become involved? #2 #1 No Is the client involved at some level? #3 No Is the client actively involved? #4 #5

43. Community Involvement • Question: What if someone has the ability or knowledge, but has no interest or may be better off not to be around people? • Answer: The person should still be scored on the domain, even if they are choosing not to be socially involved; however, also take into account a person’s personality and ability when assessing what might be considered ‘community involvement’ for them.

44. 13. Parenting Skills (for participants who are actively parenting) (Optional) • 1. Parenting skill are lacking and there is no extended family support. • 2. Parenting skills are minimal and there is limited extended family support. • 3. Parenting skills apparent but not adequate • 4. Parenting skills are adequate • 5. Parenting skills are well developed

45. No Self-Determination and Skills – Parenting Skills Family is in crisis mode? No Family is vulnerable and needs support. #2 #1 No Safety minimally adequate. #3 No Environment appears safe? #4 #5

46. 14. Legal (Required) • 1. Current outstanding tickets or warrants or other serious unresolved legal issues. • 2. Current charges/trial pending; noncompliance with probation /parole / legal issues impacting housing qualifications. • 3. Fully compliant with probation/parole terms/ past non-violent felony convictions/ working on plan to resolve other legal issues. • 4. Has successfully completed probation/parole within past 12 months; no new charges filed; recently resolved other legal issues. • 5. No active legal issues in more than 12 months and/or no felony/significant legal/criminal history.

47. Types of legal issues impacting participant. If multiple issues calculate averaged rating or best fit. • Civil Judgments • Bankruptcy • Family Law Divorce/Custody/Child Support • Sex Offender Status • Drug Charges • Violent Crimes 1 = In Crisis 2 = Vulnerable 3 = Safe 4 = Building Capacity 5 = Empowered

48. Decision Tree for Criminal Charges The client has unresolved legal issues in the past 12 months? Yes Client been on parole/probation in court in the past 12 months? Yes Is client compliant with parole/probation? No Yes #3 Client has litigation pending? Yes Does client have outstanding tickets or warrants? #2 No #1 #5 #4

49. Legal Domain FAQ How to score criminal history for sex offender or other felonies that stay on a person’s record forever and impact housing access? • If a person is currently in housing, score at 3 (safe, compliant, but limited in choice). • If a person loses their housing or are trying to access housing, the rating would be a 1 or 2 depending on their situation.

50. 15. Mental Health (Optional) • 1. Danger to self or others; recurring suicidal ideation; experiencing severe difficulty in day-to-day life due to psychological problems • 2. Recurrent mental health symptoms that may affect behavior but not a danger to self/others; persistent problems with functioning due to mental health symptoms • 3. Mild symptoms may be present but are transient; only moderate difficulty in functioning due to mental health problems • 4. Minimal symptoms that are expectable responses to life stressors; only slight impairment in functioning • 5. Symptoms are absent or rare; good or superior functioning in wide range of activities; no more than every day problems or concerns