MCRI intervention program: Pilot findings

 

 

  1. 333 cases were referred to MCRI from April 2003-July 2004.
  2. Demographics of the cases: 333 families with 634 children (63% African-American, 14% Caucasian, 23% bi-or multi-racial, American Indian, Latino, or other.)
  3. Families’ responses: (April 2003 to July 2004); 151 families have accepted services, 21 already had services, 84 families were out/timed out, or could not be contacted, and 77 declined MCRI services.
  4. MCRI responds to all cases within a week of the event, unless investigative considerations preclude an early response. Forty percent of families are offered services within 48 hours of an acute event, with 95% families offered services within one week of the event. 
  5. Based on our analyses of the first 318 families that the program has served, there is a relationship between length of time following the incident and willingness to engage with MCRI services. Data indicate that families who are offered services soon after the traumatic event are more likely to accept MCRI services than those who are offered services later.  Families who are offered services within 48 hours of an acutely traumatic event are significantly more likely to accept those services than families offered services from 3-7 days later.
  6. Recidivism data – repeat police reports/calls to 911 – we looked at 74 families offered services within the first six months of the program (i.e. from April to September 2003) and then subsequent police reports filed for domestic violence or child abuse incidents over the subsequent 8-12 months.  Families were divided into three groups (i) accepted MCRI intervention services (ii) declined services, (iii) were referred but not actually contacted by the MCRI team, because family was out when the team visited, or because the team was unable to visit them within a week of the incident because of caseload. The results are represented in the following bar/pie charts:

 

  1. New evaluation projects:

(a)   Telephone evaluation & satisfaction survey – this gives clients an opportunity to call an automated telephone line and offer feedback in response to a set of questions regarding the MCRI service, and the information, referrals and crisis services received, (including feedback on police officers within the MCRI team).  Clients are informed about the availability of this feedback mechanism via a note attached to the MCRI pamphlet left with families, and are sent a thank you gift as compensation for their participation. The phone survey takes about 5 minutes to complete. 

(b)   Other/related outcomes:

                                                              i.      Prosecution outcomes: We will be working with the Mpls City Attorney’s office to see whether the MCRI intervention results in enhanced cooperation with prosecution and/or increasing filings of OFPs.