DCYF has identified a need to streamline claiming processes and has asked Foster America to leverage support in this area. Foster America will provide technical assistance to develop and implement a fiscal focus group for this purpose. This will require nimble efforts at the intersection of finance, data, and practice — including strengthening technology infrastructure. Further, we recommend strategies for working more flexibly with community providers to procure prevention services quicker and more readily from culturally responsive organizations.
LEARNING THEME: ACCOUNTABILITY
The DCYF team produces and uses an extensive array of data: for reporting requirements, performance management, continuous improvement, and evaluation purposes. Data collection/use related to families experiencing formal child welfare systems involvement is well established, including as an accountability tool with federal partners, the state Legislature, community advocates, and parties in class-action settlement agreements. In contrast, data collection/use around prevention efforts is emerging, with work to define meaningful metrics, establish tracking methods, and use data to inform decision-making still evolving. Strengthening accountability for prevention will require creating clear, measurable benchmarks that reflect progress in providing voluntary supports that reduces formal systems involvement. A robust accountability framework ensures transparency, builds trust, and enables DCYF to demonstrate its commitment to prevention-focused outcomes to all stakeholders. We recommend elevating a set of prevention measures for routine use, building accountability mechanisms that highlight prevention in addition to more traditionally tracked child-welfare metrics. To reach this goal, we further recommend developing shared definitions for prevention success and establishing data-sharing agreements with intergovernmental partners.
| 17
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online