Understanding and measuring child welfare outcomes

Authors

Amy C. D’Andrade, San Jose State UniversityFollow
Kathy Lemon Osterling, San Jose State UniversityFollow
Michael J. Austin, San Jose State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Publication Title

Journal of Evidence Based Practice

Volume

5

Issue Number

1-2

First Page

135

Last Page

156

DOI

10.1300/J394v05n01_06

Keywords

child welfare

Disciplines

Social Work

Abstract

The new "Children's and Family Services Reviews" (CFSR) process focuses on the effectiveness of services to children and families by measuring client outcomes. This article reviews the research literature related to child welfare outcomes in order to provide a context for federal accountability efforts. It also summarizes the 2001 federal mandate to hold states accountable for child welfare outcomes and describes California's response to this mandate. Implications of the outcomes literature review and measurement problems in the CFSR process suggest CSFR measures do not always capture meaningful outcomes. Recommendations for change are made.

Comments

Copyright © 2008 The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Recommended Citation

Amy C. D’Andrade, Kathy Lemon Osterling, and Michael J. Austin. "Understanding and measuring child welfare outcomes" Journal of Evidence Based Practice (2008): 135-156. https://doi.org/10.1300/J394v05n01_06