Family Intervention Pilot (FIP)

Brief Description

The Family Intervention Pilot (FIP) is an innovative initiative that supports low income, lone mothers with previous criminal justice involvement (whose children have been identified to be at risk of future criminal behaviour) to access the supports they need.  The intent is to provide intensified wraparound support to both mothers and their young children in an effort to break the cycle of poverty and other social issues such as violence, addictions, isolation and a lack of parenting skills.

Goals

The main goals of the FIP program are to:

• Address the complexity of issues faced by clients; and
• Reduce offending behaviour; and
• Increase assets that lead to a sustainable livelihood.

Clientele

This program supports low income, lone mothers with previous criminal justice involvement (whose children have been identified to be at risk of future criminal behaviour).

Core Components

The core components of the FIP program include the following:

• Assisting women in accessing resources and supports to meet their basic needs; and
• Using a sustainable livelihood and strengths-based approach, FIP supports clients to move from crisis and disconnection to stability and engagement by providing them with supports to build skills and access resources essential for success.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: Addressing the complexity of issues faced by these women requires a program that is comprehensive and flexible, with connections to a range of services and supports, and staff with the skills to assist these women to navigate their way out of crisis and towards stability.
• Partnerships: United Way and Aspen Family jointly initiated the Family Intervention Pilot. A strategic connection with the Distress Centre in Calgary has been established due to the high degree of client crisis in the pilot program. A strong connection has also been established with Elizabeth Fry, the Remand Centre, Youville Women’s Treatment Centre and others.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

This project was implemented in Calgary, Alberta from May 2009 to July 2013. In this time, 12-15 families were targeted and 31 women were referred to the FIP.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

A social return on investment (SROI) has been conducted on the FIP program. The findings from this study have shown the following:

• Every dollar invested in FIP generated $1.36 in social value; and
• Financial proxies include the cost of the following services avoided: foster care apprehension, shelter use, emergency room visit, police investigation, legal aid time, criminal court processes, incarceration in provincial institutions, and federal institutions.

References

Alberta Community Crime Prevention Organizations. (2015). Social Return on Investment (SROI) Case Study: Family Intervention Pilot. Recipient of Safe Communities Innovation Fund, Government of Alberta. Available from:  https://open.alberta.ca/publications/safe-communities-innovation-fund-pilot-project-executive-summaries

For more information on this program, contact:

Poverty Reduction Coalition
Loreen Gilmour
Phone: (403)410-1878
E-mail: reducepoverty@calgaryunitedway.org