About the Systems Mapping Center

The Systems Mapping Center provides cross-systems mapping services focusing on different topics. These topics include behavioral health; justice; homelessness; service members, Veterans, and their families; and others. The Systems Mapping Center is an initiative of Policy Research Associates (PRA).

Experts from the Systems Mapping Center bring people together to develop a local network map. These people may not usually interact with one another but serve the same population. The local network map identifies resources and highlights areas of need and collaboration. With this map, communities can transform their systems from being system-centered to person-centered.

PRA’s experience with systems mapping spans more than 30 years. Hundreds of communities have been served through PRA’s cross-systems mapping workshops. These systems mappings have taken place in urban, suburban, rural, and frontier communities. PRA also operates federally funded national technical assistance centers. These centers focus on housing, homelessness, criminal justice, and Veterans services.

PRA staff and Systems Mapping Center facilitators are experts in the field. Staff and facilitators include:

• People with lived experiences in our areas of focus (e.g., Veterans, people with behavioral health needs, family members)
• Former service providers in jails, prisons, reentry services, Veterans’ transition services, and community-based service organizations

Policy Research Associates, which operates the Systems Mapping Center, is a Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and is a national leader in behavioral health and research. PRA offers four core services that help individuals with behavioral health needs achieve recovery. In partnership with its sister non-profit, Policy Research Associates offers technical assistance, training, research, and policy evaluation services. Policy Research Associates offers these services in the areas of systems mapping, behavioral health, homelessness, income supports, criminal justice, juvenile justice, recovery supports, people with lived experience, trauma, wellness, education, and service members, Veterans, and their families.

PRA was founded in 1987 with the stated mission of creating positive social change for people and communities through technical assistance, research, and training.