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Matching to Appropriate Placement (MAP) Assessment

This article describes the Matching to Appropriate Placement (MAP) assessment tool and how to add the assessment in Clarity Human Services.

PLEASE NOTE: this feature may not be functional yet! Functionality is part of the June 2025 Feature Updates and will be available on training sites June 3, 2025, and on live sites June 17, 2025.

Overview

The Matching to Appropriate Placement (MAP) assessment is a tool designed to evaluate the needs and vulnerabilities of individuals experiencing homelessness when administered as part of a Coordinated Entry process. Developed by Dr. Jack Barile in collaboration with Coordinated Entry leaders, homeless services providers, and individuals with lived experience, the MAP aims to guide appropriate housing and service placements.

Communities interested in implementing the MAP assessment in their CoC are encouraged to learn more from the Pathways MISI website.

Key Features and Considerations:

  • Purpose: The MAP assesses various aspects of an individual's situation, including quality of life, exposure to violence, physical and mental health crises, and housing history, to inform placement decisions within a Continuum of Care (CoC).
  • Development and Collaboration: Its creation involved input from Coordinated Entry leaders from the Montana Continuum of Care Coalition and individuals with lived experience, including members of the Montana Youth Action Board.
  • Evidence-Based Foundation: The majority of items in the MAP assessment are drawn from established, empirically supported measures found in published research. These items are combined to quantify unique sub-measures.
  • Full Clarity Compatibility: The MAP assessment is fully compatible with Clarity functionality, including assessment processors and the eligibility engine, for integrated scoring and referral capabilities. The assessment is available “out of the box” through Clarity as it has been written by its creators, but communities can copy the assessment to make additional customizations if desired.
  • Accuracy and Validity: Ongoing analysis of MAP data demonstrates strong internal validity, meaning the assessment consistently measures the intended constructs across a wide range of topics. Key domains covered include criminal justice involvement, crisis experiences, environmental factors, housing history, and experiences of violence and abuse, all of which are recognized as impacting individuals experiencing homelessness and their quality of life. 
  • Cost and Data Sharing: The MAP assessment and its accompanying guide are available free of charge to any CoC. In return, participating CoCs are encouraged to periodically share de-identified MAP data. This data is crucial for ongoing analysis to ensure the assessment's continued validity, equity, and effectiveness.
  • Commitment to Racial Equity: Initial testing has not revealed any racial or ethnic biases associated with the MAP items or its total score. This remains an important area of ongoing examination. The developers believe that by incorporating a comprehensive range of lived experiences with validated instruments, the likelihood of unintended negative consequences from its implementation is minimized.
  • Ongoing Improvement: The MAP is a dynamic tool. Researchers regularly analyze data from participating CoCs to identify and address any emerging issues related to its validity, equity, or other aspects. CoCs using the MAP are encouraged to provide feedback and suggestions for its improvement. Pathways MISI utilizes the shared de-identified data to measure the assessment's ongoing effectiveness.

In essence, the MAP assessment offers a scientifically grounded, collaboratively developed, and continually refined tool for communities seeking to improve their Coordinated Entry processes and make more informed decisions about connecting individuals experiencing homelessness with the most appropriate resources. Its free availability, coupled with a commitment to ongoing data analysis and equity, makes it a noteworthy option for CoCs.

MAP Assessment Location

Setup → Screens → Assessments Screens

For additional information on how to enable an assessment for an Agency, please see Agency Assessments Tab Overview.

Customizing MAP

In order to customize MAP assessments, or MAP processors, System Administrators may make a copy and then add any customization to the copy. 

Please note that there are important considerations for Coordinated Entry workflow and data collection. The following resources may be helpful:

Audit Log

System Administrator users with the appropriate access to access audit logs can click the Audit Log button at the bottom of the MAP assessment to track changes made to the assessment.

     

     

    Published: 05/27/2025