Framework for Managing with Data
Developed by the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology, the Framework for Managing with Data is a tool to assist agencies in using data to improve outcomes for children and youth. The framework will help you:
- Engage staff at all levels and community partners throughout the process;
- Clarify and focus on an area or issue of interest;
- Consider key questions within your focus that you want to answer with data;
- Identify and select the appropriate and most useful data to examine the issue and answer your questions;
- Analyze data to explain what might be driving practice;
- Select appropriate strategies/tools;
- Develop an implementation plan that includes data monitoring;
- Monitor and assess implementation of the plan in relation to the expected results.
The Framework's Five Key Steps:
- Define an Area of Focus and Key Questions
- Use Data to Explain
- Use Data to Select Strategies and Tools
- Design and Implement Plan
- Use Data to Monitor/CQI
Download Framework for Managing Data: Overview (PDF - 233 KB)
Example of How the Framework Could Apply to Recruitment and Retention
Steps in the Framework |
Recruitment and Retention Example |
Define Area of Focus and Key Questions |
Trying to reduce placement moves for teenagers |
Use Data to Explain |
Review data on reasons for placement moves — explore possible patterns in data (e.g., more moves for teens with specific needs, fewer moves for teens whose initial foster care placement is with a highly trained family, etc.) |
Use Data to Select Strategies and Tools |
|
Design and Implement Plan |
Provide additional training to foster parents, create peer-to-peer mentoring pairs for foster parents, reframe messaging about available respite care and encourage foster parents to make use of respite care |
Use Data to Monitor/CQI |
Review new data on placements moves to determine whether there have been changes in the number of moves and the reasons for the moves |
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