The Mosaic Collaborative
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The Mosaic Collaborative partners with various colleges and universities, advocacy organizations, international NGOs (non-governmental organizations), state coalitions and others to conduct research on current disability issues and trends.
Iowa Community Integration Project
The Iowa Community Integration (ICI) Project was a congressional earmark from the federal government. It was an amazing opportunity for Mosaic to collaborate with the state of Iowa, as well as the University of Iowa for data analysis purposes. Through this project a cohesive network of service providers developed. Individuals with disabilities were able to transition out of two IA resource centers into community-based housing. Families were provided with much needed resources to make this transition easier and more successful for both parties. The ICI project helped to transform deinstitutionalization and develop a "road map" for provider collaboration.
Changing the World, One Person At a Time
In 2010, the Mosaic Collaborative assisted in the research and development of a cost-effective analysis of international programs by service model for an international alliance, called IMPACT. Six countries were involved in this study. IMPACT has project partners in all six countries. Service models were compared by cost per person. The purpose of this study was to determine the most comprehensive service model with the least overhead costs. Click on the title of this project to learn more about the study.
A Pathway Out of Poverty
On a second project Mosaic worked with IMPACT to study micro-credit lending in Africa. This was one of the first statistical insights into IMPACT's micro-credit loan program. Loans are taken out by caregivers in Tanzania and Kenya caring for a child with an intellectual disability. In the study four areas of interest were evaluated: housing, nutrition, health, and life skills. Three areas of interest resulted in increased levels when post loan data was compared to pre-loan data.
Through the Eyes of One
In 2009, a case study was conducted in Romania by the IMPACT organization. The Mosaic Collaborative studied current processes for children with developmental disabilities. What we found was astonishing. Most of the children lived in state-run institutions with limited resources and staff were poorly trained on varying degrees of disabilities. Children were left with little social interaction, poor health, unmet developmental milestones, and no educational system appropriate for them to attend. IMPACT worked to increase awareness of deinstituationalization, change the foster care system in Romania, and stimulate integration of children with disabilities into the public school system. This study made an impact on public policies in Romania, as well as a huge impact on the life of the child presented in the case study.
DSP Workforce Crisis
The Mosaic Collaborative worked with ANCOR (American Network of Community Options and Resources) to research data on the growing workforce crisis among direct support professionals -- the very people whom individuals with disabilities depend on to assist with their daily activities of living. This study was conducted in 2008 and 2009. The outcome was a compilation of national data that is being used to develop evidence-based recommendations by policymakers to benefit organizations in the recruitment and retention of skilled and caring direct support professionals.
2008 and 2009 studies
→ To read the full length article or executive summary of any of the above projects, please click on the PROJECT TITLE
