School News

Sound Program for Homeless Families: Northwest Institute Completes Evaluation of Sound Families Initiative

The School of Social Work’s Northwest Institute for Children and Families has completed its data analysis and final evaluation report for the seven-year Sound Families Initiative supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Launched in 2000, Sound Families was a multi-year, $40 million investment by the Gates Foundation to triple the number of service-enriched housing units for homeless families in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties.

Completed in December 2007, the “Final Findings Summary: A Closer Look at Families’ Lives During and After Supportive Transitional Housing” is the sixth in a series of evaluation reports about the progress of the program published by the Northwest Institute. You will find the report here.

At the end of the December report is a list of the earlier reports published by the Northwest Institute and a link to the www.soundfamilies.org website, where you will find these reports.

A recent article in the Seattle Times about the Sound Families Initiative cites the study by the Northwest Institute as well as data the institute provided.