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Past Research Projects

Research

Adolescents

Child Abuse & Neglect

Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention

Child Welfare Education & Training

Child Welfare System Studies

Domestic Violence

Early Childhood

Family Decision Meeting (FDM) Studies

Juvenile Delinquency

Substance Abuse

Title IV-E Waiver Evaluation

Adolescents

Runaway and Homeless Youth Collaborative Research
Project Years: 2007-2010
Funding Source: Contract with Looking Glass, Inc. (Original grant funds from the Federal Children’s Bureau/Compassionate Capitol Fund)
Description:  Working with a state-wide coalition of runaway and homeless youth providers and youth leaders Center researchers will:

  • Develop and keep updated a list of evidence-based practices in runaway and homeless youth services.
  • Work with the coalition to develop a logic model describing core services provided by all providers.
  • Create a data base to capture descriptive and outcome data for Oregon’s providers
  • Create a fundable design for intervention research and pursue additional funding

Contact: Katharine Cahn, cahnk@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8122

Native Youth Suicide Prevention Program
Project Years: 2005-2008
Funding Source:NARA NW - SAMHSA Garret Lee Memorial Act Funding
Description:  The Center for Improvement of Child and Family Services, in partnership with NPC Research, Inc., is conducting an evaluation of the Native Youth Suicide Prevention Program. The program is a congressionally-sponsored national effort to increase the knowledge base regarding the prevention of and response to youth suicide.  The Native American Rehabilitation Association (NARA NW), United Indian Students in Higher Education (UISHE) at PSU, and eight federally recognized tribes are implementing the program in Oregon.  A national cross site evaluation, overseen by ORC Macro, is designed to describe the products and services developed as a result of the grant, evaluate grant-sponsored trainings, and track identification and referral activities at the project sites.  A local evaluation component will identify successes and challenges and more fully investigate the impact of grant activities on local communities.

Contact: Anna Rockhill, rockhill@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8007

Child Abuse & Neglect

Child Abuse Assessment Centers
Project Years: 2003 – 2004
Funding Source: CJA
Description: This project developed evaluation and reporting protocols for use by the state’s Child Abuse Assessment Centers and the CAMI Account coordinator. Protocols were developed in partnerships with the Network of Child Abuse Intervention Centers, Department of Human Services, and the Department of Justice CAMI Account Program.
Contact: Mandy Davis, madavis@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8008

Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention

Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon Evaluation of Funded Projects
Project Years: ongoing
Funding Source: Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon (CTFO)
Description: Work with CTFO Board of Directors and Executive Director to capture learning across programs from the thirty or more grant-funded child abuse prevention activities supported by the trust fund every year. Provide support to individual programs in their approach to quality assurance and program evaluation.
Contact: Katharine Cahn, cahnk@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8122

Child Welfare Education & Training

Title IV-E Student Graduation and Workplace Retention Evaluation
Project Years: 2006-2007
Description: This study is a longitudinal examination of outcomes for graduates of the Child Welfare Education Program.  The study examines graduation and employment records of participating MSW students in relationship to program goals of recruiting promising social work graduates into long-term public child welfare careers and increasing professional skills of public child welfare practitioners within the Department of Human Services.
Contact: Katharine Cahn, cahnk@pdx.edu, (503) 725-4161

Child Welfare Training Evaluation
Project Years: ongoing
Description: Trainings evaluated on an ongoing basis include: core child welfare training, Foster/Adoptive/Relative Caregiver training, and training provided through distance delivery. Evaluation is aimed at improving training design and delivery.
Contact: Kirstin O’Dell, odellk@pdx.edu, 503-399-5152

Training for Excellence in Child Welfare Practice in Rural Oregon and Alaska <Current Project>
Project Years: 2003 - 2008
Funding Source: Children’s Bureau
Description: This project is an evaluation of a training grant awarded by the Children’s Bureau. Trainings offered or supported by the grant are evaluated, including: “In Celebration of Rural and Tribal Child Welfare Practice Training Institute,” NetLink online trainings, University based online courses (WebCT), and Tribal Safety Assessment training.
Contact: Kirstin O’Dell, odellk@pdx.edu, 503-399-5152

Child Welfare System Studies

Evaluation of Oregon’s Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project
www.ccf.pdx.edu/cwp/pgCWP_evaluation.php 

Federal System of Care Project to Improve Permanency Outcomes (IPOP)
Project Years: 2003 - 2008
Funding Source: Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families
Description: The goal of Oregon’s Federal System of Care to Improve Permanency Outcomes Project (IPOP) is to increase the likelihood of permanency for children and youth in care 8 months or longer by developing and/or enhancing systems of care for child welfare practice. IPOP is implemented in Washington County, Clackamas County, and Morrow-Umatilla counties. As part of Oregon’s cooperative agreement with the Children’s Bureau, IPOP participates in a national cross-site evaluation of the 9-state federal Systems of Care initiative. 
Contact: Jim White, whitejm@pdx.edu, 503-725-8027

24-Hour Response/Guided Assessment Process (GAP) Implementation Evaluation
Project Years: 2002-2004
Funding Source: Oregon Department of Human Services
Description: Evaluation of the initial pilot implementation through the statewide rollout of the 24-hour response/ Guided Assessment Process (GAP) project.  DHS/CAF revised the front-end of its child welfare child protective services (CPS) processes of screening, case assignment, and initial child safety threat assessment of reports involving an allegation of child abuse/neglect.  The goal was to improve the timeliness, consistency, and quality of the response to these reports.  As part of this revision, a protocol to assist in determining the field response to these reports – immediate (same day), impending (24-hour) and response required (5-day) – had been piloted to be used in combination with a more systematic, guided assessment process.  The initial pilot test took place in September-December 2002 at selected sites in four counties.  A second phase of the pilot occurred during the month of April 2003 in these same sites.  Oregon implemented an interim version of GAP statewide in July, 2003.  Statewide implementation of the final design occurred in the summer of 2004.  Separate reports are available for both of the pilots and the statewide implementation of ‘interim GAP.’
Contact: Jim White, whitejm@pdx.edu, 503-725-8027

Cohort Studies
Project Years: 1987- 1995
Funding Source: Oregon Department of Human Resources
Description: The Cohort Studies describe the children entering Oregon’s foster care system and include the following data: type and severity of abuse/neglect, parental figures in the home, problems of the children and parents (these include substance abuse, history of abuse/neglect, criminal involvement, domestic violence, inadequate housing, chronic unemployment), barriers to the children returning home, why the child did or did not return, and return home rates. 
Contact: Anna Rockhill, Rockhill@pdx.edu, 503-725-8007

Strengths/Needs Based Services Evaluation
Project Years: 1996 - 2001
Funding Source: Oregon Department of Human Resources
Description: In 1996, an agreement between the Juvenile Rights Project and the Oregon State Office for Services to Children and Families (SOSCF) resulted in a plan for a change in the way in which services are delivered to families throughout the state. That year, six pilot branches (Polk, Deschutes, and the four metro Portland branches) began gradual implementation of the new model. Subsequent implementation was mandated for the rest of the state, to be completed by June 2001. Named System of Care, the service includes individualized assessment of children's needs, strengths-based work with families, involvement of community partners, and flexible funding to pay for wrap-around services to meet children's needs. The Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI), in collaboration with the Child Welfare Partnership, assumed responsibility for evaluating the implementation of the Strengths/Needs Based service delivery system, the critical practice component of the System of Care.
Contact: Angela Rodgers, rodgersa@pdx.edu, 503-725-8022.

Domestic Violence

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Project
Project Years: 1998 - 2004
Funding Source: Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) funds through Oregon Department of Human Services
Description: Evaluation of co-located domestic violence advocate services in child welfare offices. Research included surveys of child welfare and domestic violence staff regarding changes in knowledge and practice, as well as interviews with staff and clients regarding the impact of the project on clients, case outcomes, domestic violence and child welfare practice, relationships between domestic violence and child welfare agencies and broader systems issues. 
Contact: Anna Rockhill, rockhill@pdx.edu, 503-725-8007

Substance Abuse

Robert Wood Johnson Substance Abusing Parents and ASFA Project
Project Years:  2001-2004
Funding Source: NPC Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Description: An examination of the influence of ASFA timelines on child welfare systems, substance abuse treatment systems, and legal systems, and on key child welfare and treatment outcomes such as reunification, time to treatment and treatment completion. There are five monographs available: Accessing Substance Abuse Treatment: Issues for Parents Involved with Child Welfare; Is the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Influencing Child Welfare Outcomes for Families with Substance Abuse Issues?; Does Substance Abuse Treatment Make A Difference for Child Welfare Case Outcomes? A Statewide Longitudinal Analysis; What’s All the Fuss About? Collaboration Between Child Welfare and Substance Abuse Treatment; and Understanding patterns of substance abuse treatment services for women involved with the child welfare system: influences of family characteristics and social policy.
Contact: Anna Rockhill, rockhill@pdx.edu, 503-725-8007

Early Childhood

Oregon! Ready to Learn Initiative Evaluation
Project Years: 2001-2005
Funding Source: Oregon Community Foundation
Description: An evaluation of the training, planning and implementation programs awarded grants from the Oregon Community Foundation’s Oregon! Ready to Learn Initiative. The purpose of the Initiative was to strengthen the capacity of communities to provide evidence-based early literacy services to children birth to three and their caregivers.
Contact: Kirstin O’Dell, odellk@pdx.edu, 503-399-5152.

Family Decision Making Meetings (FDMs)

Family Decision Making Meeting Studies
Project Years:  Study I: 1998-1999; Study II: 1999-2000
Funding Source:  Oregon Department of Human Services
Description: 
Study I:  This process study employed a grounded theory methodology and sought to examine the nature and function of Family Decision Meetings (FDMs) used by DHS Child Welfare in Oregon.  Data collection methods included meeting notes, meeting observations and in depth interviews with all meeting participants in 26 child welfare cases.  Findings describe the dynamics of decision making and planning in FDMs and the various factors that either hinder or facilitate meaningful family involvement in those processes. 
Study II:  This descriptive study looked at a larger sample of cases (N = 100) throughout Oregon to create a profile of average use of meetings used by DHS Child Welfare and to look at follow through on meeting plans 45-60 days after meetings.  Meeting notes and plans were reviewed for information on meeting frequency, timing, format, purpose, facilitation, attendance, and whether meetings addressed safety, attachment, and permanency needs of children.   Interviews with caseworkers and family members were conducted 45-60 days after meetings regarding follow through on plans and reasons for lack of follow through.  Findings show that practice varies widely from branch to branch.  Regarding follow through, while parent noncompliance and relapse was most frequently cited for plan failure or delay, agency, service provider, and court issues also played a significant role.   
Contact: Angela Rodgers, rodgersa@pdx.edu, 503-725-8022

Juvenile Delinquency

Schoolworks Project
Project Years: 2003-2008
Funding Source: Juvenile Rights Project, Byrne Grant
Description: Evaluation of SchoolWorks, a program providing education-related legal advocacy to dependent and delinquent youth. The research included measures of short-term outcomes, a satisfaction survey administered to a range of community partners, interviews with key stakeholders such as school and court personnel and foster parents, and a process evaluation which highlighted successes and challenges associated with implementation.
Contact: Anna Rockhill, rockhill@pdx.edu, 503-725-8007

Title IV-E Waiver Evaluation

Evaluation of Oregon’s Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project II

Project Years: 2004 – 2009

Funding Source: Oregon Department of Human Services

Description: In April 2004, Oregon’s Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project was renewed for five years. Oregon’s Waiver uses flexible funds to implement innovative services and subsidized guardianship. The evaluation contains three components:

  • Monitoring targeted CFSR outcomes related to permanency and safety for innovative services funded by Waiver flexible funds.
  • Evaluation of enhanced visitation services funded by the Waiver. Evaluation will be conducted between 2007 and 2009 and consists of a detailed process study and descriptive outcome study. The goals of the process study are to describe enhanced visitation programs, identify case and branch level factors associated with targeted outcomes, and examine the broader effects of enhanced visitation services funded by the Waiver. The outcome study will examine permanency and safety outcomes for 3 groups:  (1) cases from the intervention group who participate in enhanced visitation, (2) cases from the intervention group who do not participate in enhanced visitation, and (3) cases from the comparison group. 
  • Evaluation of subsidized guardianship contains both outcome and process components. The goals of the process evaluation are to: (1) describe the subsidized guardianship program; (2) determine the proportion of eligible cases that successfully establish guardianship; (3) compare subsidized guardianship cases to cases with other permanency outcomes; and (4) identify system and case level barriers and facilitators of timely subsidized guardianship. The goals of the outcome evaluation include: (1) assess stability, safety, and impact of guardianships; (2) identify barriers and facilitators to maintaining guardianships; and (3) determine dissolution and re-referral rates for subsidized guardianship cases compared with cases with other permanency outcomes.

Publications:

For general questions about the Title IV-E Waiver evaluation project, contact: Angela Rodgers, rodgersa@pdx.edu, (503) 725-8022
For questions related to the subsidized guardianship component, contact: Anna Rockhill, Rockhill@pdx.edu, 503-725-8007

Evaluation of Oregon’s Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project I

Project Years: 1997- 2002

Funding Source: Oregon Department of Human Services

Description: Oregon was among the first cohort of states to implement a Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project, granted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Waiver was an opportunity to experiment with a proportion of previously earmarked foster care maintenance dollars to examine whether access to additional flexible funds contributed to better outcomes for children and families. Oregon’s first Waiver was a five year systems change initiative. There were four broad categories of flexible fund expenditures: (1) foster care prevention, (2) expansion of existing services, (3) innovative services, and (4) subsidized guardianship. The evaluation of the Waiver included both process and impact components.

Contact: Kirstin O’Dell, odellk@pdx.edu, 503-399-5152

Publications:

Article: Lehman, C.M., Liang, S., and O’Dell, K. (2005). Impact of flexible funds on placement and permanency outcomes for children in child welfare. Research on Social Work Practice, 15 (5), p381-388.