# Getting Started with Village Metrics: Setup & App Basics

## What is VillageMetrics?

VillageMetrics is a comprehensive behavior tracking and analysis app designed specifically for families with children who have behavioral challenges, particularly those who are neurodiverse. The app helps parents, caregivers, and support teams collaborate to understand patterns, track progress, and make data-driven decisions about care strategies.

At its core, VillageMetrics transforms daily voice journal entries into actionable insights through AI-powered analysis, helping you identify what works, what doesn't, and how different factors affect your child's behavior over time.

## Who Should Use VillageMetrics?

**Primary Users - Parents:**

- Parents of children with autism, ADHD, or other behavioral challenges
- Families seeking data-driven approaches to understanding their child's patterns  
- Parents who want to collaborate effectively with their child's care team

**Secondary Users - Caregivers:**

- ABA therapists and RBTs
- Teachers and educational aides
- Family members and babysitters  
- Medical professionals (pediatricians, psychiatrists, BCBAs)
- Anyone who provides regular care for your child

## The Village Concept

The name "VillageMetrics" reflects the core philosophy: *it takes a village to raise a child*. Children with behavioral challenges typically have extensive support networks, and VillageMetrics is designed to help that entire village work together more effectively.

Rather than keeping separate notes across different systems, everyone contributes to a shared understanding of your child's progress, challenges, and what strategies are working best.

## System Requirements

- **iOS and Android**: Available on both mobile platforms
- **Internet Connection**: Required for AI analysis and cloud data storage (the app is primarily a front-end to cloud services)
- **Email Authentication**: Currently the only supported login method

## Pricing & Subscription

VillageMetrics is a premium service with a generous free trial:

- **Free Trial**: 4 weeks of full access to all features
- **Annual Subscription**: Paid annually (no monthly option available)
- **Family Pricing**: One subscription covers unlimited children and unlimited caregivers
- **Payment**: No upfront payment required - billing begins after free trial ends

### What's Included:

- Unlimited journal entries from unlimited caregivers
- Complete analysis and insights for all children in your family
- All export and sharing features
- Premium voice transcription service
- AI-powered behavior analysis
- Medication tracking and effectiveness analysis

**Important**: Only parents pay for subscriptions. Caregivers use the app for free when invited by parents.

## First Time Setup Overview

Getting started with VillageMetrics involves several key steps:

1. **Account Creation**: Email authentication with one-time password verification
2. **Role Selection**: Choose between Parent or Caregiver account types
3. **Child Profile Setup**: Add your child's information, photos, and relevant conditions
4. **Notification Preferences**: Configure push notifications and email settings
5. **Privacy Consents**: Set HIPAA-compliant data sharing preferences
6. **Subscription Activation**: Begin your 4-week free trial
7. **First Journal Entry**: Record your initial voice entry about your child
8. **Medication Setup**: Configure current medications and dosages (if applicable)
9. **Village Building**: Invite caregivers to join your child's support network

Each of these steps is designed to be completed in just a few minutes, with the entire onboarding process typically taking 10-15 minutes.

## What to Expect

**Immediate Benefits:**

- **AI Analysis of Every Entry**: Each journal entry gets instant analysis, summaries, and hashtag generation
- **Village Communication**: Push notifications keep all caregivers informed when new entries are added
- **High-Quality Transcription**: Voice-to-text with professional-grade accuracy
- **Organized Daily Record**: Clean, searchable record of your child's experiences

![VillageMetrics Home Feed](assets/images/screenshots/home-feed-view.png){ width="300" }

*The home feed shows all journal entries with behavior scores, summaries, hashtags, and quick access to details*

**Benefits After One Week:**

- **Analysis Dashboard Unlocked**: Requires at least 5 journal entries to access full analysis features
- **Initial Pattern Recognition**: Early behavior trends and hashtag-based activity tracking
- **Caregiver Comparisons**: See how your child responds to different village members

**Benefits After One Month and Ongoing:**

- **Rich Behavioral Analysis**: Comprehensive insights across multiple timeframes
- **Medication Period Comparisons**: Track effectiveness as you change medications and dosages
- **Healthcare Consultation Data**: Detailed reports perfect for doctor and therapist appointments
- **Clear Trigger and Enhancement Patterns**: Understand what helps or hinders your child's best days

## Getting Help

If you need assistance at any point:

- **In-App Support**: Use the Ask Anything feature to get guidance on using the app
- **Email Support**: Contact hello@villagemetrics.com for technical issues or questions
- **Quality Feedback**: Enable quality review consent to help improve the app's accuracy

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Ready to get started? Let's move on to creating your account and setting up your first child profile.