The Arizona Evaluation Project: The Self-Sufficiency Matrix

All three CoC in Arizona participate in the “Evaluation Project”. The project has a steering committee with staff from all three continua, the staff of HMIS and the staff of the Arizona Department of Economic Security. The CoCs voted to participate in the Evaluation Project to strengthen their HUD application and to have a way to reliably show outcomes. Agencies are constantly updated on the status of the Evaluation Project. The Continua vote each time a decision regarding the Evaluation Project is made.

Arizona is using the matrix as a Predictive Model to accurately predict which agencies will work well with which clients. The data set they are using to make this Predictive Model includes any new client who entered a program after October 1, 2005, when the Continua decided that the data being collected was reliable. Using the matrix as a Predictive Model requires statistical analysis, and some of the domains are not statistically valid and do not produce reliable predictive data.

For purposes of comparing a program’s results to another program, they will only be compared when they serve like populations (e.g. chronically homeless, families, etc.). Each population will have different benchmarks and different goals.

Individual agencies may develop their own outcome measures using matrix information in their individual applications. If they do use the matrix data in their applications for Continuum of Care funding, the agencies have to be careful about how they frame and use data and the meaning given to data.

Case managers use the tool universally with clients to show client progress. In Arizona, the matrix is done with the client, so the case manager and the client can choose goals together. Completing the matrix also gives the case manager more information about the client. Arizona agencies generally do not share matrix data with each other, but may share the initial assessment.

The matrix has been incorporated into HMIS from the beginning of HMIS. It is a subassessment tied to entry, exit and “interim” and has its own subtab. Each domain has a picklist box: 1-5, unknown and inapplicable. Completing the matrix in HMIS adds 5-10 minutes to the intake process and about 15 extra keystrokes. SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX DOMAIN 1 2 3 4 5 Income No income. Inadequate income and/or Can meet basic needs Can meet basic needs Income is sufficient, well spontaneous or with subsidy; and manage debt without managed; has discretionary inappropriate spending. appropriate spending. assistance. income and is able to save. Employment No job. Temporary, part-time or Employed full time; Employed full time with Maintains permanent seasonal; inadequate pay, inadequate pay; few adequate pay and employment with adequate no benefits. or no benefits. benefits. income and benefits. Housing Homeless or threatened In transitional, temporary In stable housing that Household is in safe, Household is safe, with eviction. or substandard housing; is safe but only adequate subsidized adequate, unsubsidized and/or current marginally adequate. housing. housing. rent/mortgage payment is unaffordable (over 30% of income). Food No food or means to Household is on food Can meet basic food Can meet basic food Can choose to purchase any prepare it. Relies heavily stamps. needs, but requires needs without assistance. food household desires. on other sources of free occasional assistance. or low-cost food. Childcare Needs childcare, but Childcare is unreliable or Affordable subsidized Reliable, affordable Able to select quality none is available/ unaffordable, inadequate childcare is available, childcare is available, no childcare of choice. accessible and/or child supervision is a problem for but limited. need for subsidies. is not eligible. childcare that is available. Children’s One or more school- One or more school-aged Enrolled in school, Enrolled in school and All school-aged children Education aged children not children enrolled in school, but 1 or more children attending classes most of enrolled and attending on a enrolled in school. but not attending classes. only occasionally the time. regular basis. attending classes. Adult Literacy problems Enrolled in literacy and/or Has high school Needs additional Has completed Education and/or no high school GED program and/or has diploma/GED. education/training to education/training needed diploma/GED are sufficient command of improve employment to become employable. No serious barriers to English to where language situation and/or resolve literacy problems. employment. is not a barrier to literacy problems to point employment. where able to function effectively in society. Legal Current outstanding Current charges/trial Fully compliant with Has successfully No active criminal justice tickets or warrants. pending, noncompliance probation/parole completed probation/ involvement in more that 12 with probation/parole. terms. parole w/in past 12 mos, months and/or no felony no new charges filed. criminal history. SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX

DOMAIN 1 2 3 4 5 Health Care No medical coverage No medical coverage and Some members (e.g. All members can get All members are covered by with immediate need. great difficulty accessing Children) on medical care when affordable, adequate health medical care when needed. AHCCCS. needed, but may strain insurance. Some household members budget. may be in poor health. Life Skills Unable to meet basic Can meet a few but not all Can meet most but not Able to meet all basic Able to provide beyond needs e.g. hygiene, food, needs of daily living all daily living needs needs of daily living basic needs of daily living daily living activities. without assistance. w/out assistance. without assistance. for self and family. Mental Health Danger to self or others; Recurrent mental health Mild symptoms may Minimal symptoms that Symptoms are absent or recurring suicidal symptoms that may affect be present but are are expectable responses rare; good or superior ideation; experiencing behavior, but not a danger to transient; only to life stressors; only functioning in wide range severe difficulty in day- self/others; persistent moderate difficulty in slight impairment in of activities; no more than to-day life due to problems w/ functioning due functioning due to functioning. every day problems or psychological problems. to mental health symptoms. mental health concerns. problems. Substance Meets criteria for Meets criteria for Use w/in last 6 mos; Client has used during No drug use/alcohol abuse Abuse severe dependence; preoccupation evidence of persistent last 6 months, but no in last 6 months. abuse/dependence; with use and/or obtaining or recurrent social, evidence of persistent or resulting problems so drugs/alcohol; withdrawal occupational, emotional recurrent social, severe that institutional or withdrawal avoidance or physical problems occupational, emotional, living or hospitalization behaviors evident; use related to use (such as or physical problems may be necessary. results in avoidance or disruptive behavior or related to use; no neglect of essential life housing problems); evidence of recurrent activities. problems have dangerous use. persisted for at least one month. Family Lack of necessary Family/friends may be Some support from Strong support from Has healthy/expanding Relations support form family or supportive, but lack ability family/friends; family family or friends. support network; household friends; abuse (DV, or resources to help; family members Household members is stable and child) is present or members do not relate well acknowledge and seek support each other’s communication is there is child neglect. with one another; potential to change negative efforts. consistently open. for abuse or neglect. behaviors; are learning to communicate/support. SELF-SUFFICIENCY MATRIX Mobility No access to Transportation is available, Transportation is Transportation is Transportation is readily transportation, public or but unreliable, available and reliable, generally accessible to available and affordable; private; may have car unpredictable, but limited and/or meet basic travel needs. car is adequately insured. that is inoperable. unaffordable; may have inconvenient; drivers care but no insurance, are licensed and license, etc. minimally insured. DOMAIN 1 2 3 4 5 Community Not applicable due to Socially isolated and/or no Lacks knowledge of Some community Actively involved in Involvement crisis situation; in social skills and/or lacks ways to become involvement (advisory community. “survival” mode. motivation to become involved. group, support group), involved. but has barriers such as transportation, childcare issues. Safety Home or residence is Safety is Current level of safety Environment is safe, Environment is apparently not safe; immediate threatened/temporary is minimally however, future of such safe and stable level of lethality is protection is available; adequate; ongoing is uncertain; safety extremely high; level of lethality is high safety planning is planning is important possible CPS essential involvement Parenting There are safety Parenting skills are minimal Parenting skills are Parenting skills are Parenting skills are well Skills concerns regarding apparent but not adequate developed parenting skills adequate

July 7, 2005