Child Welfare
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The Center’s research work in child welfare focuses on improving outcomes for children, youth and families involved in child-serving systems. Research and evaluation efforts examine prevention, family support, placement stability, workforce development and system coordination, often in partnership with public agencies and community organizations. The Center applies rigorous mixed-methods approaches to assess programs, inform policy and strengthen practices that promote safety, permanency and well-being.
Child Welfare Projects
Effectively joining with the family to establish common goals concerning child safety, well-being, and permanency
Alternative Response is an alternate pathway to assess and respond to the unique safety concerns, risks, and protective capacities of each family that is the subject of an accepted report of child maltreatment. Alternative Response pathways are designed to identify family needs and find creative solutions, including formal and informal supports and services to ensure child safety.
Meeting the social, emotional and developmental needs of parents and children who are unhoused
To address the essential needs of unhoused families and children, this project implemented and evaluated a newly developed program, Creating Resiliency Among Families in Transition (CRAFT). Two agencies serving homeless families committed to this project and CRAFT includes six core modules to address the needs of unhoused parents and children. The impact of the program on parents was measured through pre- and post-tests using the Psychological General Well-Being Index, Short, the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire, and the Brief Parental Self-Efficacy Scale.
Developing and piloting adversity-informed assessment tools for system-involved youth and young adults
The CFCWB partnered with Coalition Supporting Young Adults (CYSA) to identify, train, and pilot assessment tools for mental health, life skills, crisis needs, and goals of system-involved youth and young adults aged 16-24. This Cross-System Assessment project used evidence-based, adversity-informed scales to develop an assessment tool comprised of seven validated scales which measure client needs, strengths, mental health, adverse childhood experiences and more, as well as incorporating scenarios with each scale to facilitate understanding and practice for practitioners before survey administration.
Assisting the parents of families who are involved with the child welfare system due to substance use disorder
Family Recovery Court partners with CFCWB for implementation and evaluation of this court-based program. FRC utilizes an advisory board of parent participants and key stakeholders from partners inside and outside of FRC including key partners from Volunteers of America and the Administrative Office of the Courts. The Family Recovery Court model offers three phases of treatment: 1) substance use treatment 2) parenting education and 3) family therapy, individual therapy and life skills training.
Examining the organization's culture, leadership, workforce wellbeing, communication, policies, processes, performance and capacity to adapt and sustain effectiveness
Key Assets Kentucky (KAK) provides licensed residential treatment and behavioral health counseling services across Central Kentucky, supporting youth with autism and developmental disabilities as well as individuals and families in crisis through compassionate, high-quality care that fosters hope and brighter futures. CFCWB completed survey distribution and data analysis using the Comprehensive Organizational Health Assessment (COHA) to determine staffs' perceptions of the culture and climate of the agency. The results were analyzed and a report was provided to the agency.
Evaluating performance, client satisfaction and needs to enhance services
Key Assets Kentucky (KAK) provides licensed residential treatment and behavioral health counseling services across Central Kentucky, supporting youth with autism and developmental disabilities as well as individuals and families in crisis through compassionate, high-quality care that fosters hope and brighter futures. CFCWB partnered with KAK for a needs assessment, including focus groups, interviews, and surveys. The results were analyzed and a report was provided to the agency.
Improve data operationalization, collection and analysis to enhance the overall quality of care and effectiveness of programming for youth
Maryhurst believes in the worth of children, the strength of families and the power of hope. Maryhurst is dedicated to healing those in crisis through a continuum of innovative and specialized care. Maryhurst hoped to improve data operationalization, collection and analysis can enhance the overall quality of care and effectiveness of programming for youth. Using data collected by Maryhurst staff, CFCWB analyzed various outcomes regarding process evaluation, safety, permanency, well-being and organizational culture and climate and provided a report.
Improve data analysis, utilization and reporting to prevent the abuse and neglect of Kentucky's children
The mission of PCAK is to prevent the abuse and neglect of Kentucky’s children through support, education, awareness and training. PCAK envisions building a better Kentucky by shaping our future leaders and their families to ensure Kentucky's children grow up in safe, healthy environments. PCAK negotiated a contract with the CFCWB to do the following: 1. Review of existing data analysis and reports 2. Advanced analytics and additional report development 3. Training of PCAK staff in data analysis and reporting.
Examining organizational trust and its impact on culture, employee well-being and organizational functioning through a comprehensive mixed-methods study
During 2022-2023, CFCWB conducted a study on organizational trust through a partnership with University administration. The CFCWB has a long history of research on issues of organizational culture and climate, including issues of trust, and the impact on organizational functioning and employee well-being and retention. This study utilized a mixed methods design, which included a survey administered to all employees and approximately 125 focus groups across the University. Data from both components of this research are being reported by unit. A comprehensive university wide report will be disseminated after unit reports are out.
Evaluating the understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health on child welfare in the U.S. training for the Kentucky Department for Community-Based Services
This project evaluates the relative effectiveness of anti-separatism psychoeducation groups including social workers, family support workers and administrative staff within the Cabinet for Health and Family Services with an emphasis on those social workers and family support workers who work with the Department of Community Based Services (DCBS). Groups consist of one 6-hour session and address 1) the social determinants of health 2) advantage and persecution 3) partiality 4) slights and micro-interventions 5) history of separatism across multiple systems and 6) macro change strategies.