As someone who has worked in the behavioral health field, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating consequences of youth not receiving adequate or appropriate services. Right now, kids are matched with the right program only 34% of the time. FirstMatch offers a data-focused to solution to finding the right program for kids the very first time they enter care, leading to reduced trauma and more positive outcomes. I truly believe that this platform has the potential to catalyze change throughout the child welfare, juvenile justice and behavioral health systems.
Why FirstMatch®?
Youth who are part of the child welfare, juvenile justice and behavioral health systems are often matched with programs that do not meet their specific treatment needs.
Selecting the right treatment program for kids is challenging. Clinical information is complex and the time to make those decisions is short. Today, children are placed in the right program for them only 34% of the time.
When states, counties, or providers make the wrong decisions, kids experience disruptions in care and cycle through multiple treatment programs. This leads to additional trauma, negative impacts on social, physical and emotional well-being, disruption of education and overall poor outcomes for youth.
When states, counties, or providers make the wrong decisions, kids experience disruptions in care and cycle through multiple treatment programs. This leads to additional trauma, negative impacts on social, physical and emotional well-being, disruption of education and overall poor outcomes for youth.
FirstMatch provides a solution
FirstMatch is a predictive analytics software solution that uses a trained algorithm to match a child with the right treatment program the first time, significantly increasing the chances of a successful outcome. When a child’s clinical information is entered into FirstMatch, the tool uses an agency’s historical outcomes to recommend the best program for that particular child whether it’s out-of-home placement, in-home programming, or behavioral or mental health services. Decision makers have the data to make an informed choice.
With FirstMatch:
Child
- Only needs one placement or treatment program
- Spends less time away from family
- Has better chance of long-term success
Service Provider
- Treats most appropriate youth
- Sees reduced lengths of stay
- Experiences decreased recidivism and re-entry rates
Referral Source
- Sees reduced lengths of stay
- Has less overall placements
- Realizes cost savings
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Predictive Analytics
How FirstMatch Works
FirstMatch uses an agency’s distinctive data set to create a predictive analytics tool individualized to their programming and their clients.
When a child’s information is entered into the organization’s unique FirstMatch tool, the intelligent application compares the characteristics and predictive factors of the referred child to the historical outcomes achieved by the agency’s programs that had the same or similar predictive factors. FirstMatch then generates a report, based upon the data, that recommends the most appropriate program available within the organization.
FirstMatch Users
FirstMatch users fall into one of two categories: a referral source or a service provider. The referral source (such as juvenile probation or children and youth agencies) can own the tool and use it for their referrals to their own community-based programs or in-home programs. Service providers can own the tool and use it for youth referred to their programs. The service provider would then send the report to the referral source for use in their decision-making process.
Improved Clinical Outcomes
FirstMatch Impact
FirstMatch is the only tool of its kind that will predict the likelihood of a match between child and treatment program based upon a youth’s specific predictive factors and a service provider’s clinical and outcomes data.
FirstMatch helps referral sources, service providers and healthcare organizations.
- Collect and manage outcomes data
- Reduce the number of out-of-home placements
- Reduce racial and ethnic disparity
- Identify the target population for programs
- Verify the quality of services provided
- Identify the gaps in service
- Reduce the trauma to youth and families
- Identify effective responses to diversion
- Improve overall outcomes, including recidivism, program completion, re-entry and re-hospitalization
- Realize a financial savings that can be reinvested into programming
ongoing maintenance and technical support
Implementing FirstMatch
When an agency partners with FirstMatch, they receive a full complement of services, from implementation and start-up to ongoing maintenance and technical support.
placement tool
FirstMatch Report
FirstMatch provides agencies with the tools they need to generate more informed treatment decisions.
Once a youth’s data is entered into FirstMatch, the tool produces a report for the user that reveals the likelihood that a youth will achieve the desired outcome within a particular program.
