Transcript Document

Evaluation Highlights from Pilot Phase
July 2005 – June 2007
Prepared for Leadership Team Meeting
January 11, 2008
Evaluation of SFI:
• Metro Chicago Information Center (MCIC)
• Qualitative summary of pilot phase (July 2005 –
June 2007) based on:
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24 key informant interviews
Data from learning networks
Project reports to DCFS and CSSP
Collateral materials
• Final report projected completion: Feb. 2008
In the Beginning:
• Promising framework (Protective Factors) and a
challenge (embed Strengthening Families in your
early childhood and child welfare systems)
• Needed to develop initiative from the ground up:
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Child welfare connection to early childhood
Local center based pilot approach
Training
Parent engagement
Communication
Systems change
Evaluation
Structure
Partner Collaboration
Synergy and Reach:
• Grew from 23 to 40 state partners
• 6 Learning Networks (One in Each DCFS Region) with 50 early
childhood centers participating
• 5,000 parents and 6,200 children reached through participating centers
• 140 early childhood professionals trained as trainers for SFI training
– Mental Health Consultants
– Child Care Nurse Consultants
– Prevent Child Abuse IL Prevention Resource Developers
– U of I Extension Family Life Educators
– Learning network participants
• Trainings delivered to approximately 350 early childhood providers
through learning networks
• On calendars of Childcare Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&R)
and Illinois Resource Center (ISBE)
Partner Contributions
National Impact
Illinois leads the way:
• Comprehensive approach
• Child welfare leadership
WA
ME
MT
ND
OR
MN
• Parent engagement
ID
V
T
SD
N
H
NY
WI
MA
MI
WY
RI
CT
PA
IA
CA
• Family child care
NV
NJ
NE
UT
OH
IL
DE
IN
CO
MD
WV
MO
KS
VA
KY
DC
NC
• Professional development
AZ
TN
OK
NM
AR
SC
MS
• Evaluation tool development
TX
AL
DC
GA
NH
LA
RI
AK
FL
• Communications tools
HI
CSSP Pilot Sites
Children's Trust Fund States
Learning Network
Zero to Three Partnering with Parents States
NAEYC STSF States
CSSP Exemplary Programs
Parents as Primary Target Audience
• Parent engagement in developing:
– Grassroots public awareness campaign
– Process to get protective factor information directly to
parents (LINE Parent Cafes)
Lessons Learned / Challenges
• Embedding Strengthening Families practice in
early childhood centers requires:
– Leadership of the center fully committed
– Availability and connection to resources
– Staff training for teachers, family workers
• Maintaining learning networks
– Hub Coordinator role = critical to network success
– Competing priorities of participating centers
– Sustaining and expanding network membership
(turnover)
– Forming additional networks (meeting demand)
Lessons Learned / Challenges
• Training
– Maintaining quality
– Availability
– Incentives for programs to access
• Evaluation
– Creation of tools
– Dedicated staff and resources for data analysis
Lessons Learned / Challenges
• Partner collaboration
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Big vision and valuable work = engagement
Relationship building
Competing priorities
Agility and ability to adapt (go with the flow)
• Child welfare collaboration
– Direct relevance to children & families in the system (need
to make the link)
– Need dedicated staff to make collaboration happen
– Building relationships among caseworkers and early
childhood staff
– Data systems needed
Recommendations:
Expand effort to make greater impact with children
and families:
• Increase coordination of training opportunities
through Illinois CCR&R Agencies
• Sustain existing learning networks and support
growth in additional communities
• Meet growing demand for SFI training and
technical assistance in non-pilot communities
Recommendations (cont):
• Commit resources to studying, ascertaining, and
documenting impact of Strengthening Families
• Continue support of partners in attracting private
and state funding in support of Strengthening
Families work
• Expand initiative through partners
• Embed Protective Factors beyond the arena of
early care and education
• Improve data systems
Strategic Plan Discussion
Background: In the pilot phase, our mission was
guided by the Center for the Study of Social Policy’s
priorities:
“Prevent child abuse and neglect and promote the
health and well-being of children and families by
working with child care centers and child welfare
agency staff to incorporate evidence-based
protective factors in early childhood services and
systems statewide.”
Small Group Discussion & Feedback
Question: Given the direction and
vision of DCFS and the strengths of the
initiative to date, what is the mission of
the Strengthening Families Initiative for
the next five years?
Large Group Discussion
What does the collaboration / mission need
from DCFS in its leadership role?
Large Group Discussion:
What is your agency or organization’s role as
a partner in realizing the mission? (What
are you prepared to contribute? What do
you stand to gain?)