An ecomap is a map of the family and the larger world in which the family exists. Its primary use is to highlight the relationships between the family and these other systems. It is another assessment tool that provides a tangible, graphic picture of a family's situation.
Ecomaps use symbols to depict the nature of the relationships between the family and other systems. They also show the flow of energy. Ideally, there will be a balance between the energy the family expends and the energy that flows into the family. If there is a major imbalance, it may help the worker and the family to target some areas for intervention. Some widely used ecomap symbols are set out below. However, when constructing an ecomap the most important thing is that everyone involved in the process understands what the symbols mean. It is in the process of constructing the map (and not in the end product) that learning occurs.
The ecomap is one of the assessment tools included in the Uniform Family Needs Assessment instrument that must be completed by the Family Service Worker on every case opened for services. The worker must decide whether or not an ecomap is needed. Usually, an ecomap would be used in situations where the worker has a reason to believe there are problems in the "fit" between the family and its environment. In this respect, it is probably a more useful tool for Family Service Workers than the Genogram, especially in the early stages of the assessment.
Ecomaps are constructed with the family early in the assessment stage. As new information emerges or the family is able to access new resources, the map will change, Showing the changes may be a good way to reinforce with the family the progress it has made.
Creating an ecomap involved: 1) drawing the family in a circle, 2) identifying the other systems that impact the family, and 3) identifying resources or systems that are needed but absent, and determining how the energy is flowing between the various systems. The systems identified can be formal or informal. The map symbols for constructing an ecomap are set out on the next two pages.