All Center projects include the initial step of conducting a systematic research review to assess the existing knowledge base from which new research should proceed or to ascertain gaps in information that need to be addressed by additional research. Such a review of existing information involves the explicit search and selection of relevant studies, assessment of their scientific adequacy, and the critical synthesis of the findings to reach an overall conclusion about the validity of a proposition of social intervention and/or about the strength of the evidence-base for continuing current interventions.

Well Built Questions are formulated and stated in PICO format [P - Conditions of the target population for which one wishes to draw inferences. I - Intervention or program whose efficacy and effectiveness one is interested in evaluating. C - The alternative course of action with which one wants to draw a comparison. O - Intended outcome one wants achieved.], to initiate searches for relevant, existing studies on a topic or question. Bibliographies and literature reviews resulting from this activity are maintained online.

Literature Reviews presently available:

Adult Sibling Relationship
Bruises
Caseload Size in Best Practice
Domestic Violence and Child Exposure
Failure to Thrive
Investigative Interviewing of Children
Kinship Caregiving Environments
Kinship Care Well-Being Outcomes
Multiple Placements in Foster Care
Non-Organic Failure to Thrive
Parental Substance Abuse and Child Maltreatment
The Nature of Adult-Sibling Relationship
Sibling Relationship in Out-of-Home Care
Substance Abuse Assessment Instruments for Women