Research and Evaluation Reports and Links

Recently Completed 2000 to 2007

Evaluation of the Iowa Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Project

The Iowa Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Project was implemented in Iowa as Compassion Iowa (CI). Its purpose was to build and enhance the capacity of Iowa faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) seeking to better serve Iowans in need. Direct technical assistance, professional training and sub-grant awards were used to improve organizational capacity in the five critical areas: leadership development, organizational development, programs and services, funding, and community engagement. The evaluation plan included description of how the project was implemented and operated, how the original design was followed and the extent of adaptations to the proposed strategies. Documentation established a written record of the approach which others may then adopt with fidelity, or adapt to meet local needs. To access the final report [click here].

Evaluation of the Johnson County Early Learning Initiative

Working with the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County (IA), the NRCFCP is evaluating this project funded by the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Child Care Bureau (CCB) through the Early Opportunity Learning Act (ELOA). The JCELI targets educational and health outcomes for young children from birth to age 5 and prepares them for a successful school experience through a community education campaign, provider training and support, and early childhood services and interventions. (2004-2006). To access the final evaluation report [click here].

Evaluation of Pregnancy Prevention and Abstinence Only Education [click here] This project of the Iowa Department of Health implemented four education pilots and two community pilots demonstrating the use of abstinence education to prevent adolescent pregnancy. (1998-2003). The 2005 evaluation report contains the most recent research and evaluation related to the Iowa adolescent pregnancy prevention and abstinence-only education projects.

Broadway Neighborhood Revitalization Project [click here]

The NRC is collaborating with the Neighborhood Centers of Johnson County to conduct a community assessment and produce a community development plan for the Broadway Street Neighborhood. With major funding from Southgate Development, Inc., door-to-door interviews of approximately 400 neighborhood residents are currently underway.

Network Guide to Measuring Family Development Outcomes [click here]
The Network Guide documents a variety of exemplary approaches and describes how these approaches work. Lessons learned are provided for identification, implementation, use, reporting and improvement of outcomes of family development programs. (2002-2003)

Evaluation of Polk County (IA) Wraparound Project for African American Adolescents
[click here] Funded by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this project engaged the community in a consensus building and planning process to evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Wraparound service model for African American adolescents with co-occurring mental disorders and substance abuse disorders. (2002-2003)

Evaluation of South Santa Clara County (CA) Wraparound Project for Latino Children and Youth [click here]
Funded by the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this project engaged the community in a consensus building and planning process to develop a Wraparound Model and evaluate the feasibility of implementing the Wraparound service model for Latino children and adolescents with co-occurring mental disorders and substance abuse disorders. (2002-2003)

Social Network Analysis of Collaboration among Service Network Providers for the Iowa Strengthening Communities – Youth (SCY) Project
Funded through SAMHSA, this project assessed the Iowa SCY system of care network of agencies and the effect that the startup of the SCY project had on the relationships within the network of service providers. (2002 Report). The SCY project also produced a manual for maximizing recruitment and retention of study participants [click here] who engaged in the practice called Strengths Oriented Family Therapy or SOFT.

Automated Assessment of Family Progress
Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services through a grant to the Iowa Community Action Association, this project has developed an automated system for measuring outcomes of Community Action Agencies. The system is operational in all CAAs in the state of Iowa. Technical assistance in learning how to use the database was provided by the NRC. (1999-2002)

Evaluation of the Iowa Wraparound Project for Latino Children and Youth
Funded by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration this evaluation includes process and outcomes measures of community consensus building to implement an exemplary intervention practice. (2000-2002)

Local Outcomes Technical Assistance for Boone and Dallas Counties (IA)
This project provided technical assistance to community collaboratives in Boone and Dallas counties in developing outcome measures and reporting systems. (2001-2002)

Evaluation of the Clinton Substance Abuse Council Drug Free Communities Initiative
Funded by the Federal Drug Free Communities grant, this evaluation includes network analysis of collaboration building and outcome measures of community based programs providing intervention services. (2001-2002)

Evaluation of the Life Options Program
As part of the federally funded Des Moines Success Program, the Life Options Program is continuing in the Des Moines Community School District. This program model, developed by Michael Carerra, seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancy by providing high-risk youth with a variety of educational, health, and recreational supports. (2000-2002)

Evaluation of the Family Strengthening Cooperative Agreement
Funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, this study evaluated the implementation and outcomes of the Community Corrections Improvement Association. (1999-2001)

Validation of the California State University Monterey Bay/Packard Foundation

Empirical assessment of the reliability and validity of the California Family Development Matrix Model. (1999-2001)

Evaluation of the Healthy Start Cooperative Agreement
Funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Maternal and Child Health, Healthy Start sought to improve health outcomes for infants and mothers in a targeted high-risk area in the city of Des Moines. Healthy Start implemented three primary components: case management, service facilitation (through transportation, childcare, and translation services), and consortium development. The evaluation included tracking of key performance indicators over time, analysis of case specific data, consumer satisfaction, network analysis of interagency collaboration, and cost analysis. (1997-2001)

Local Outcomes Technical Assistance Project
Funded by the Iowa Department of Human Services, this project is providing technical assistance to more than 25 community collaboratives around the state in developing outcome measures and reporting systems. (1999-2000)

Evaluation of the Life Options Program at Casady Alternative School
The Des Moines Public Schools, with funding from multiple community foundations, implemented the Life Options model at an alternative school. This program model, developed by Michael Carerra, seeks to prevent adolescent pregnancy by providing high-risk youth with a variety of educational, health, and recreational supports. A quasi-experimental design was implemented to compare youth in the Life Options program with a group of youth from other schools in the community. (1997-2000)

Mediation for Permanency Project
This demonstration project, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Adoption Opportunities Program, was conducted by the Iowa Department of Human Services in collaboration with Family Resources, Inc. and Four Oaks, Inc., two private nonprofit agencies in Iowa. The project used mediation to resolve conflicts in child welfare cases in situations involving out of home placement, permanency hearing, and termination of parental rights. (1997-2000, Report)