Cross-Center Evaluation of the Child Welfare Capacity Building Centers
Child welfare systems are continually challenged to achieve better outcomes for children, youth, and families.
In 2014, the Children’s Bureau restructured its approach to support those systems in states, tribes, and courts by creating the Child Welfare Capacity Building Collaborative. As the prime contractor, JBA is evaluating the Collaborative’s efforts to help systems build their capacities to better meet federal standards intended to improve child safety, permanency, and well-being.
The current cross-center evaluation is examining the technical assistance services provided by the Collaborative’s three Capacity Building Centers—for states, tribes, and courts. The goal of the evaluation is to increase knowledge about the services implemented and their effectiveness, recipient satisfaction with those services, and collaboration within and across Centers.
Using a mixed-methods longitudinal approach, JBA is conducting process, outcome, and cost studies across three phases: assessment and design; evaluation implementation and data collection; and analysis, reporting, and dissemination. Data collection includes surveys, interviews, focus groups, and a service delivery tracking system. The findings will be shared with stakeholders and the child welfare field.
Staff
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James P. DeSantis, Ph.D.
Vice President
James P. DeSantis has more than 28 years of research, program design, evaluation, technical assistance, and project management experience. His subject expertise...
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Joanna DeWolfe, M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Joanna DeWolfe has 28 years of experience in applied social science research and evaluation of programs serving children and families. Her subject expertise...
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Heidi Melz, Ph.D., M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Heidi Melz has 19 years of experience researching interventions that address child welfare issues and family structure, functioning, and well-being. She...
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Pirkko Ahonen, Ph.D., M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Pirkko Ahonen has 20 years of experience in evaluation studies, technical assistance, and applied research. She currently serves as the project director for the Tribal...
- Anne Fromknecht, M.P.H. Senior Research Associate
- Erin Ingoldsby, Ph.D. Director
- Chi Connie Park, Ph.D., M.A. Senior Research Associate
- Tammy Richards, M.Ed. Senior Research Associate
- Amanda Thomson, M.P.P. Research Associate
- Kirsten Keene, M.A. Research Associate
- Erin Morehouse, M.P.H. Research Associate
Partner
ICF