Center research functions promote results-oriented accountability.

Results-Oriented Research, Management, and Accountability

The major challenges facing public child welfare systems call for building a results-oriented system of research, management and accountability that can continuously be re-examined and reformed in light of incoming information on child and family outcomes.

The Center promotes results-oriented accountability in the provision of child welfare services and supports decision-making at each of the following four stages of program and policy analysis and management:

(1) Monitoring - Assessing agency performance through regular tracking of statistical indicators of child and family outcomes, system processes, and compliance with procedural standards

(2) Best Practice - Conducting systematic research reviews and studies of evidence-based interventions and practices that are hypothesized to improve agency performance

(3) Evaluation - Promoting policy initiatives and innovative service demonstrations that can be rigorously evaluated to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of these interventions and practices

(4) Quality Assurance - Undertaking continuous case monitoring and program auditing to ensure that interventions are implemented in an improved manner and are accomplishing the intended results.

These functions are tied to Center data reports and research products that enhance capacity to measure outcomes for children and families, inform policy and practice, evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of child welfare programs, and improve the quality of services.