Chapin Hall Center For Children

GENERAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITY

FOSTER PARENTS NETWORK ANALYTICS HUB (HUB) - THE FOSTER PARENT NETWORK ANALYTICS HUB WILL STRENGTHEN THE NATION’S CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SUSTAIN FOSTER PARENT NETWORKS BY DEVELOPING THE FIRST STANDARDIZED, LONGITUDINAL ANALYTIC INFRASTRUCTURE CENTERED ON FOSTER HOMES AND LINKED TO FOSTER CHILDREN. WORKING ALONGSIDE THE CHILDREN’S BUREAU, THE CENTER FOR STATE CHILD WELFARE DATA AT CHAPIN HALL, APHSA, AND THE NATIONAL ADOPTION ASSOCIATION WILL HELP AGENCIES GENERATE EVIDENCE FROM ADMINISTRATIVE DATA AND USE IT IN POLICY, MANAGEMENT, AND PRACTICE DECISIONS. THE PROJECT ADDRESSES A FUNDAMENTAL GAP IN CHILD WELFARE MANAGEMENT. ALTHOUGH FOSTER PARENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO STABLE AND TIMELY FAMILY-BASED PLACEMENTS, MOST AGENCIES LACK LONGITUDINAL INFORMATION ABOUT FOSTER HOME RECRUITMENT, LICENSING, AVAILABILITY, UTILIZATION, RETENTION, CAPACITY, AND PERFORMANCE. FEDERAL REPORTING FOCUSES PRIMARILY ON CHILDREN AND LACKS HOME-LEVEL RECORDS NEEDED TO FOLLOW FOSTER HOMES, LINK THEM TO CHILDREN SERVED, ANTICIPATE CAPACITY STRAIN, OR ASSESS MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES. THE HUB WILL WORK WITH STATE, TERRITORIAL, AND TRIBAL AGENCIES TO CONSTRUCT STANDARDIZED FOSTER HOME RECORDS FROM LICENSING, PROVIDER-MANAGEMENT, PLACEMENT, AND CHILD-LEVEL DATA. EACH JURISDICTION WILL IMPLEMENT SEVEN COMMON DATA MODEL BASE FILES, AN INTEGRATED LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS FILE, DATA-QUALITY AND LINKAGE STANDARDS, AND A FOSTER HOME NETWORK PROFILE. REUSABLE MODULES WILL PRODUCE COMPARABLE MEASURES OF RECRUITMENT, UTILIZATION, CAPACITY, RETENTION, ATTRITION, AND PLACEMENT DYNAMICS, SUPPORTING LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS, FORECASTING, DASHBOARDS, AND CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL COMPARISON. THE HUB WILL PAIR EVIDENCE GENERATION WITH AGENCIES’ CAPABILITY TO INTERPRET, APPLY, AND LEARN FROM EVIDENCE. THROUGH THE EVIDENCE-DRIVEN GROWTH & EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK, EXECUTIVE EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, COACHING, PEER LEARNING, AND BASELINE-TARGET-ACTUAL REVIEW CYCLES, LEADERS AND STAFF WILL CONNECT FINDINGS TO THEORIES OF CHANGE AND DECISIONS ABOUT RECRUITMENT, FOSTER PARENT SUPPORT, RETENTION, PLACEMENT MATCHING, CAPACITY, BUDGETING, AND STRATEGY. THE CENTER WILL LEAD OVERSIGHT, ANALYTICS, QUALITY ASSURANCE, AND EVIDENCE-USE CONTENT; APHSA WILL LEAD GOVERNMENTAL READINESS, GOVERNANCE, AND CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL LEARNING; AND NAA WILL ENGAGE PRACTITIONERS, CAREGIVERS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE NATIONAL OBSERVATORY WILL MAINTAIN COMMON DEFINITIONS, BENCHMARKS, ANALYTIC SPECIFICATIONS, REUSABLE CODE, GUIDANCE, AND LEARNING RESOURCES. A NATIONAL LEARNING NETWORK WILL CONNECT PRACTITIONER, CAREGIVER, COMMUNITY, AND AGENCY AUDIENCES SO IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE IMPROVES HUB METHODS, TOOLS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THREE COHORTS OF FOUR JURISDICTIONS WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN YEARS 1–3, FOLLOWED BY A SELF-BUILD QUALITY-ASSURANCE PATHWAY DESIGNED TO REACH 24 JURISDICTIONS BY YEAR 5. EXPECTED RESULTS INCLUDE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN RIGOROUS FOSTER HOME EVIDENCE; ADOPTION OF STANDARDIZED METHODS; RECURRING EVIDENCE USE IN AGENCY DECISIONS; BROADER ACCESS TO VALIDATED NATIONAL RESOURCES; AND STRONGER STEWARDSHIP OF FOSTER PARENT NETWORKS. PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE FROM THEIR BASELINES IN RECRUITMENT AND LICENSING, UTILIZATION, RETENTION, CAPACITY ALIGNMENT, PLACEMENT MATCHING, DISRUPTION, AND STABILITY. BY COMBINING BETTER EVIDENCE WITH STRONGER EVIDENCE USE, THE HUB WILL ESTABLISH AN ENDURING NATIONAL CAPABILITY THAT ADVANCES A HOME FOR EVERY CHILD AND IMPROVES OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

EVALUATING INVESTMENTS TO EXPAND HIGH QUALITY CHILD CARE UTILIZATION AND SUPPLY IN ILLINOIS

NEBRASKA PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP: CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING FOR FAMILIES IN SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY (PREVENTION PARTNERSHIP) - CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE INVOLVED IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING BEING PLACED IN FOSTER CARE. THEY ARE ALSO LESS LIKELY TO BE REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS IF THEY ARE REMOVED. IN NEBRASKA, A THIRD OF FAMILIES INVESTIGATED FOR CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT HAD PARENT SUBSTANCE USE AS A FACTOR. YOUNG CHILDREN (SUCH AS CHILDREN LESS THAN SIX YEARS OLD) ARE ESPECIALLY AT RISK, AS THEY ARE THE LARGEST GROUP OF CHILDREN IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES. HELPING FAMILIES STAY SAFELY TOGETHER AND BUILD PARENTING SKILLS IS IMPORTANT FOR WELL-BEING OF THESE CHILDREN AND THEIR FUTURE SUCCESS. SUPPORTING SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY IS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR PARENTS, STRENGTHENING FAMILY ECONOMIC STABILITY. WITH THE PROJECT, NEBRASKA WILL CREATE A STATEWIDE SYSTEM TO MAKE A POPULAR AND WELL-REGARDED PARENTING SERVICE CALLED CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTINGTM MORE AVAILABLE TO THESE FAMILIES. THIS PROGRAM IS AN EIGHT-WEEK CLASS THAT HELPS PARENTS BUILD STRONGER AND MORE COMFORTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN. RECENT RESEARCH IN NEBRASKA HAS SHOWN THAT IT HELPS KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. PARENTS ALSO LIKE THE PROGRAM AND TRUST HOW IT HELPS WITH THEIR CAREGIVING SKILLS. DESPITE THIS, IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO MANY FAMILIES WHO COULD USE ITS HELP, AND MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED TO SHOW HOW IT CAN HELP FAMILIES DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES. THIS PROJECT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT NEBRASKA FAMILIES: 1) THE NEBRASKA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES FOUNDATION (NCFF), WHICH OVERSEES THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PROGRAM; 2) THE DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES); 3) THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT), BOTH AT THE NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES; 4) THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF COURTS AND PROBATION, PART OF THE NEBRASKA COURT SYSTEM THAT SUPPORTS BETTER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE COURT INVOLVEMENT; AND 4) CHAPIN HALL, A RESEARCH AND POLICY INSTITUTE THAT WILL EVALUATE HOW WELL THE PROJECT IS WORKING. ONE GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO BUILD CONSISTENT PATHWAYS AMONG THESE NEBRASKA ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS TO BUILD A STRONG REFERRAL SYSTEM FOR FAMILIES WITH DRUG OR ALCOHOL CHALLENGES AND WITH YOUNG CHILDREN TO KNOW ABOUT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING PROGRAM. ANOTHER GOAL IS TO BUILD THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAINED TO DELIVER THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTINGTM PROGRAM SO THAT IT IS AVAILABLE TO MORE FAMILIES. A FINAL GOAL IS TO CONDUCT RESEARCH ON HOW THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING PROGRAM CAN BE DELIVERED TO PARENTS WHO ARE ALSO RECEIVING TREATMENT FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROBLEMS, AND WHETHER PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM REDUCES THE CHANCE THAT CHILDREN ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES FOR FAMILIES WHERE THERE ARE SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHALLENGES. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE PROJECT WILL USE ADMINISTRATIVE DATA FROM THE STATE TO COMPARE FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO DO NOT RECEIVE IT AND SEE IF THERE ARE DIFFERENT RATES OF OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT FOR THE TWO GROUPS. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO EXAMINE HOW SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT PROGRAMS INTEGRATE THE CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING MODEL INTO RECOVERY SERVICES.

BUILDING EARLY CHILDHOOD-CHILD WELFARE PARTNERSHIPS TO SUPPORT THE WELL-BEING OF YOUNG CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS

GENERAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITY

CHICAGO SCHOLARS PROGRAM RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

EVALUATING THE EFFECTS OF CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING (COSP) ON CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES IN NEBRASKA: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

BUILDING RIGOROUS EVIDENCE FOR CONNECTICUT'S KINSHIP NAVIGATION MODEL (CONNECTIKIN/CKIN): AN IMPACT EVALUATION - CHAPIN HALL, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (CT DCF), PLANS TO CONDUCT A RIGOROUS QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL IMPACT EVALUATION OF CONNECTICUT'S KINSHIP NAVIGATION MODEL (CKIN). CKIN IS A STATEWIDE KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAM, OPERATING ACROSS ALL SIX OF CT DCF'S ADMINISTRATIVE REGIONS SINCE 2023, THAT CONNECTS KINSHIP CAREGIVERS AND THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE TO INFORMATION, REFERRALS, BENEFITS COORDINATION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND PEER SUPPORT. CONNECTICUT HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF KINSHIP CAREGIVING IN THE NATION, WITH NEARLY HALF OF CHILDREN ENTERING OUT-OF-HOME CARE PLACED WITH RELATIVES AND THOUSANDS MORE LIVING IN INFORMAL KINSHIP ARRANGEMENTS STATEWIDE. OVER THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, CKIN IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE REFERRALS FOR APPROXIMATELY 1,900 – 2,100 KINSHIP CAREGIVERS STATEWIDE. THE EVALUATION, LED BY CHAPIN HALL WITH SUBCONTRACTED TITLE IV-E CLEARINGHOUSE EXPERTISE FROM KAYE IMPLEMENTATION & EVALUATION (KI&E), WILL ASSESS CKIN'S EFFECTIVENESS USING A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN COMPARING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES WHO RECEIVE CKIN SERVICES AGAINST A COMPARISON GROUP DRAWN FROM CT DCF'S ADMINISTRATIVE DATA. THE EVALUATION WILL EXAMINE CHILD SAFETY AND PERMANENCY OUTCOMES, DRAWING ON CT DCF ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS, THE STATEWIDE CKIN DATA PLATFORM (PIE), AND STRUCTURED CAREGIVER SURVEYS ADMINISTERED AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, AND AT 6- AND 12-MONTH FOLLOW-UP. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A SIX-MONTH COLLABORATIVE PLANNING PHASE, IN WHICH CHAPIN HALL, CT DCF, AND ACF'S CHILDREN'S BUREAU WILL FINALIZE THE KNP SERVICE MODEL AND EVALUATION DESIGN, FOLLOWED BY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FULL IMPACT EVALUATION. THE PROJECT BUILDS ON AN EXISTING PARTNERSHIP: CHAPIN HALL AND CT DCF HAVE JOINTLY DEVELOPED CKIN'S THEORY OF CHANGE, LOGIC MODEL, TRAINING CURRICULUM, AND EVALUATION PLAN, AND OPERATE UNDER AN ACTIVE DATA USE AGREEMENT AND IRB PROTOCOL COVERING THE EVALUATION'S DATA COLLECTION. THIS WORK IS FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY CHAPIN HALL'S LONG-STANDING COLLABORATION WITH KI&E. KI&E HAS PARTNERED WITH CHAPIN HALL SINCE OHIOKAN, A RECENTLY CLEARINGHOUSE-APPROVED KINSHIP NAVIGATION MODEL, AND HAS BEEN EMBEDDED IN THE CT DCF PARTNERSHIP — INCLUDING CONDUCTING CKIN'S EVALUABILITY ASSESSMENT AND, CURRENTLY, ITS FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT. THE PROJECT'S GOAL IS TO GENERATE EVIDENCE SUFFICIENT TO SUPPORT CKIN'S SUBMISSION TO THE TITLE IV-E PREVENTION SERVICES CLEARINGHOUSE FOR A RATING OF PROMISING, SUPPORTED, OR WELL-SUPPORTED — POSITIONING CONNECTICUT TO DRAW DOWN TITLE IV-E KINSHIP NAVIGATOR FEDERAL FUNDING UNDER SECTION 474(A)(7) OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AND ADDING A RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED MODEL TO THE SMALL NUMBER OF CLEARINGHOUSE-RATED KINSHIP NAVIGATOR PROGRAMS NATIONALLY.

MULTI-SYSTEM TRAUMA-INFORMED COLLABORATIVE FOR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE (MSTIC)

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: EVICTIONS: CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND INSTITUTIONS

CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES AND THE LONG TERM ACHIEVEMENT OF LOW-INCOME CHILDREN

STRESS, DEPRESSION, AND THE ROLE OF RACIAL AND ETHNIC CONCORDANCE IN THE EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION WORKFORCE

LEVERAGING CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW (CFSR) ADMINISTRATIVE DATA TO UNDERSTAND THE RELEVANCE OF CONTEXT IN SURVEILLANCE AND ADVANCING EQUITY

CHILD CARE DEMAND AND TOOLS FOR MEASURING SPATIAL ACCESSIBILITY

IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOUSING INSTABILITY AND HOMELESSNESS IN A HEAD START PROGRAM

CHILD MALTREATMENT AMONG CHILDREN IN OUT-OF-HOME CARE: SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF NCANDS AND AFCARS DATA

TRAUMA EXPOSURE, ECOLOGICAL FACTORS, AND CHILD WELFARE INVOLVEMENT AS PREDICTORS OF YOUTH CROSSOVER INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM