Mockingbird Family Model — Fifth Evaluation
by the University of Washington (January 2007)
The Mockingbird Family Model (MFM) is based on the premise that foster/kinship youth who grow up among “extended family” are more likely to experience the sense of safety, permanence and well-being that allows them to grow and thrive as individuals. The MFM places foster youth in the center of a community of four to ten foster/kinship homes in a given neighborhood. At the center of the constellation is a Hub Home operated by licensed foster parents who coordinate special events, youth activities and emotional resources to support foster youth and other parents in the cluster.
In 2006, there were four MFM Constellations in King County, implemented for eight, seven, five and three months respectively. Two Constellations each served eight children who were in treatment foster care as they had behavioral and mental health needs. Two Constellations served 12 and 16 children respectively who received basic foster care.
Mockingbird Family Model Overview
Hub Homes provided a total of 2,941 hours of planned respite care and 1,343 hours of crisis respite to MFM families during the evaluation period. Hub Homes also provided 1,454 hours of family social activities. This represents a total of 5,738 hours of supportive services to MFM families in the period.
Percentage of MFM Children by Race/Ethnicity
| African-American | 52% |
| Multiracial | 14% |
| Caucasian | 12% |
| Latino/Hispanic | 12% |
| Asian Pacific Islander | 6% |
| Native American | 4% |
2006 Family Data
| Number of participating families | 22 |
| Number of participating children | 44 |
| Age range of children | 2-18 years |
| Number of kinship families | 5 |
| Number of kinship children | 12 |
Placement Stability
- 37 of the 44 children (84%) in the MFM remained in one foster home consistently over the period evaluated.
- Seven placement changes occurred. Two youth aged out of the system, three children moved to another placement within their Constellation, one child required a residential treatment placement and one child left the foster home.
- A total of 10 placement disruptions were prevented, according to foster parent reports, during this period by the availability of MFM respite and support.
Connection with Siblings
- 45% of the children in the MFM were placed in the same home as at least one sibling. This compares to 26% in a random sample of foster children in King County.
Respite Care
- 60% of MFM foster parents reported using respite care as compared to 31% of the foster parents from the random sample of DSHS King County families.
- Many of the foster parents who were new to MFM reported they had rarely or never had access to regular respite in the past (particularly kinship caregivers).
- Respite care is facilitating sibling visits and is also providing normalizing experiences for foster children to spend time with their peers, older youth, or younger children to do fun activities or take trips to local attractions.
Cultural Relevancy
- Overall, 80% of the children in MFM shared the same racial/cultural or ethnic identity as at least one of their foster parents.
- A majority of foster parents reported that their foster child often had interactions which promoted his/her cultural identity.
Findings based on the March 2007 evaluation report compiled by the University of Washington Northwest Institute for Children and Families.
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