Evaluation is an essential tool for program managers and funders to promote best practices within family support programs, obtain feedback from program participants, and report the impact of services for children and families. NHCT grantee programs have consistently provided information from their own community-based programs, yet this individual program data could not be analyzed to effectively reflect the impact of family support across the Granite State.
This is why NHCT has taken a leadership role and formed the Outcome Accountability Project. Since 2002, NHCT has worked in collaboration with New Hampshire family support programs, the NH Division for Children, Youth, and Families, and the FRIENDS National Resource Center to create and administer the Family Support Program Outcome Survey (Outcome Survey). The Outcome Survey is a survey tool that measures parent report of change across seven key protective factors. Research has shown that protective factors such as knowledge of child development, confidence in parenting, and supportive relationships reduce the risk of child maltreatment.
We have successfully administered this survey to participants in programs in every county across NH for the past three years. Data has consistently shown that program participants are experiencing statistically significant levels of positive change across every protective factors measured. Publishing and presenting these results is a stepping stone to spreading the message of the importance of primary prevention programs that work to keep children safe and families strong. NHCT is committed to working with programs that serve children and families to utilize an evaluation method that promotes evidence-based practice while telling the story of the work that programs are doing everyday with children and families to prevent child maltreatment.
If you would like to know more about the Outcome Accountability Project in New Hampshire, please contact Keryn Bernard-Kriegl at 603.224.1279 or kbernardkriegl@nhchildrenstrust.org
To view the reports produced from the Outcome Accountability Project click here.
Resources for Evidence-Based Practice
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention
Logic Model Builder for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Family Support Programs
Logic Models - Frequently Asked Questions
W.K. Kellogg Foundation – Evaluation Toolkit
Evidence-Informed & Evidence-Based Practices
Workshop Date: November 19, 2007