Fayette County’s Project AWARE teams participated in the Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) process on March 7th, facilitated by the WV Prevention Research Center (WVPRC).
What is Ripple Effects Mapping?
REM is a participatory evaluation tool used to visually map the impact of programs and projects, capturing both intended and unintended effects, and is particularly useful for understanding the complex, interconnected nature of community-based initiatives. The process supports understanding of program or project impact by uncovering the unique ways initiatives make a difference through storytelling and impact mapping in a group setting. REM involves gathering data from program participants, community partners, and other stakeholders through facilitated discussions and workshops. The collected data is then visually mapped, creating a “ripple map” that illustrates the connections and impacts of a program or project. REM helps document both the intended and unintended consequences of a project, providing a comprehensive understanding of its effects.
The REM Event
The day was split into two sessions. Students from the Oak Heal Outreach Team participated in the morning session. The students provided insight on the impact of our grant from the youth perspective. Amy Knicely, SEA AWARE Project Coordinator from the Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery attended. The video below shows the map the students created in their session.
The afternoon session included school administrators, counselors, social workers, therapists, teachers, members of the Board of Education, and state partners. Crystal Criswell, School Mental Health Coordinator from the Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance Center, Division of Community Health, School of Medicine joined the discussion.
The WVPRC will provide a final report to summarize the findings, which can help the Project AWARE evaluation team as well as the Fayette County leadership team as they plan the 2025-2026 school year.
As social worker week comes to an end, I was reminded today of my “why”. I love these kids plus many other students that I’ve gratefully been able to work with at OHHS over the years. ✨Happy social worker week to all of my fellow change makers. I hope you all have felt appreciated and recognized for ALL that you do!✨
Posted by Kassie Sayre Gunnoe on Friday, March 7, 2025