An eco-map is a graphic representation or visualization of the family and linkages to the larger social system including informal (e.g., friends, extended family members) and formal (e.g., early care and education providers, early intervention providers) supports. It illustrates how families exist within the context of their relationships with other individuals and institutions with which the family has contact. Utilizing an ecological model (Bronfenbrenner, 1979), the eco-map provides a visual display of any group of interconnections and relationships, providing a graphic image of the family system within the larger social matrix.

The eco-map provides an opportunity to visually represent the family’s perspectives about the absence or presence, nature and strength of linkages to entities such as family members, friends, co-workers, religious or spiritual institutions, schools, social service agencies, community groups, recreational activities, health care networks, legal systems, and volunteer or advocacy organizations (Cox, 2003). More>> [PDF, 284KB]