A major factor currently affecting the Family Strong program and its participants length of participation. We view this as a positive. There is a large number of families being served that have received ongoing services for over a year now. As is true in many human service efforts, the longer families receive services, the better they function grow as well as receiving more resources. We have multiple families who have maintained housing after homelessness due to assistance in the program as well as families who have been connected to mental health services or have integrated as a family successfully after the parent’s incarceration. Accomplishments like these take a significant amount of contact and time. Another insight regarding the length of stay many families have in the program is the success of participant engagement. Families do not continue to participate in classes, events, and visits unless they value the importance of these services. Their continued engagement is one of the most flattering compliments we can receive as strive to know and serve our participating families well.

 These families can be transitioned to be positively discharged because of their sustained stability. Three families served during this fiscal period have already been discharged on the basis of improved stability and self-sufficiency. Successful discharge is a great accomplishment for program delivery with participants. The stage of independence achieved to justify ending services is a testament to the effectiveness and sustainability of the program’s efforts.

This measure is collected by identifying how many children under 18 are participating and how many families. Families are identified per incarcerated parent. With 54 children and 22 families, the average ratio is 2.45 children per family although some families have as many as 5 children participating. There was a total of 101 individuals that participated. The target measure of 30 children and 25 families would represent a ratio of 1.2 children per family. As we reported at the half year, because the goal ratio based on children per family is so unlikely and historically not representative of participants, the more likely outcome of reaching the goal of 25 participating families would be a total of 61.25 children given the current, actual ratio of 2.45.