The Hub model: It’s time for an independent summative evaluation

Abstract

Over the past decade, governments and the non-profit, private, academic, and philanthropic sectors have begun thinking differently about how human and social services are organized and delivered. Across Canada, a range of integrated health and social care practices are being developed, adapted, and implemented to meet local needs. The Hub (or Situation Table as it is more commonly known in Ontario) model is one such approach. The Hub model is a multi-sector, collaborative, risk-driven intervention that mobilizes multi-sectoral human services for the purpose of rapid risk mitigation focused on the immediate needs of persons experiencing acutely elevated risk of harmful safety or well-being outcomes. Over the past eight years, the model has been adopted in over 115 communities across Canada.

While the model has benefited from developmental and formative evaluations, it is now timely to undertake a systematic multi-site evaluation of the generalizable impacts (e.g., clients, system, costs) and lessons learned about what works, in which context, and why. This body of work will serve to inform policymakers, funders, practitioners and others as to the way forward with the Hub model. The Community Safety Knowledge Alliance (CSKA) is moving forward on a plan to see such independent evaluation undertaken.