Family Development Case Management is a model of service provision developed over several years at MMCA. Its elements include a focus on the entire family with a flexible definition of "family." The model is strength-based and family-focused, and encourages teamwork between family, agency, and community resources. It includes an assessment for measuring levels of risk in fifteen life areas and promotes problem-solving skills that identify and eliminate barriers to self-sufficiency. Model assumptions include:

1. Families have strengths and can change;
2. Work with families is intended to empower them to resolve issues on their own;
3. Case managers are consultants and collaborators;
4. Family Development is responsive to the family as a whole;
5. Development of a network of community support is vital to the success of families.

Model strategies include:

1. Structured initial assessment to establish rapport and identify concerns;
2. Development of service plans that identify community supports, and establish goals for family members to work on;
3. Time-sensitive goal strategies to encourage progress and participation;
4. Active involvement of caseworkers, with periodic review of progress toward goals;
5. Follow up support to help families sustain themselves over time.

The Family Development model includes a comprehensive range of activities to assist participating families to achieve self-sufficiency goals through coordinated access to community services and ongoing case management support.