Program Evaluation as a Tool to Improve Permanency Outcomes
Advisor Information
Jeanette Harder
Location
UNO Criss Library, Room 232
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
6-3-2015 2:45 PM
End Date
6-3-2015 3:00 PM
Abstract
Statistics for Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area (Douglas and Sarpy counties) indicate that more than 250 (11%) children and youth in care aged out of the child welfare system without achieving permanency through reunification or adoption between January 2012 and June 2013 (Nebraska Families Collaborative, 2014). Children and youth aging out of care are at risk for a number of adverse outcomes. Achieving permanency protects against these outcomes by providing children and youth with a strong and stable support system (Perry, 2006). In turn, efforts to guide youth down a path toward permanency are critical to the current and future well-being of youth in care. Addressing barriers to and improving permanency outcomes for the hardest-to-place children in Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area are objectives of the Nebraska Adoption Project. This project seeks to meet these objectives through the successful integration of the Family Finding Model and the 3-5-7 Model© into the Eastern Service Area’s child welfare system. The current study aims to improve permanency outcomes for children and youth by evaluating and comparing outcomes of the integrated approach to those of treatment as usual (Wendy’s Wonderful Kids) in Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area.
Program Evaluation as a Tool to Improve Permanency Outcomes
UNO Criss Library, Room 232
Statistics for Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area (Douglas and Sarpy counties) indicate that more than 250 (11%) children and youth in care aged out of the child welfare system without achieving permanency through reunification or adoption between January 2012 and June 2013 (Nebraska Families Collaborative, 2014). Children and youth aging out of care are at risk for a number of adverse outcomes. Achieving permanency protects against these outcomes by providing children and youth with a strong and stable support system (Perry, 2006). In turn, efforts to guide youth down a path toward permanency are critical to the current and future well-being of youth in care. Addressing barriers to and improving permanency outcomes for the hardest-to-place children in Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area are objectives of the Nebraska Adoption Project. This project seeks to meet these objectives through the successful integration of the Family Finding Model and the 3-5-7 Model© into the Eastern Service Area’s child welfare system. The current study aims to improve permanency outcomes for children and youth by evaluating and comparing outcomes of the integrated approach to those of treatment as usual (Wendy’s Wonderful Kids) in Nebraska’s Eastern Service Area.