The Vital Elements of Family Justice’s Family Case Management Model

Family Justice is dedicated to aiding individuals under justice system supervision by supporting them and their families and working in partnership with government. Case management and other services are provided through La Bodega de la Familia, a storefront in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Family Justice is refining its Family Case Management model in its work with participants at La Bodega. A 2002 study by the Vera Institute of Justice demonstrated the effectiveness of La Bodega in reducing recidivism among participants. The Capstone team studied four elements of Family Justice’s Family Case Management model to identify those elements that contribute to successful outcomes and that could then be utilized by Family Justice for future implementation of the Family Case Management model in other communities. The Capstone team tested the following four elements: Family Justice’s emphasis on relationships; partnerships between family case managers and parole and probation officers; the importance of being located in the participants’ community; and the development and use of the genogram and action plan tools. Through standardized surveys and interviews of Family Justice staff, participants and their families, government partners, law enforcement officials, and funders, the Capstone team assessed the importance of the four elements from each of the stakeholder’s perspective. The team used that information to develop recommendations, assisting Family Justice in refining its Family Case Management model and providing qualitative information that supports Family Justice in advocating for implementation of its model at local, state, and national policy levels.