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Research and evaluation - Recent Projects
Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program Evaluation of the MIECHV program is intended to assist the state and federal governments in efforts to strengthen and improve comprehensive home visiting services. Through evidence-based home visiting programs for pregnant women, expectant fathers, parents and primary caregivers of children birth to kindergarten, improvements in maternal and child health and development and prevention of child injuries, reductions in the incidence of child maltreatment and improved school readiness are intended. In addition to assessing the effectiveness of the program with different populations the evaluation is also intended to explore the empirical evidence for the potential for activities to expand, address health disparities and improve health care practices, potential for improvement in the system for quality, efficiencies and reduction of cost. Data collection is completed while in home services are being provided through the use of tablet technology on iPads utilizing our university-based web-enabled data collection system called REDCap. For more information on REDCap, visit the following link: https://redcap.icts.uiowa.edu/redcap/index.php?action=training Project LAUNCH (Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) Project LAUNCH is a http://projectlaunch.promoteprevent.org/contacts-for-grantees/iowa
Evaluation of Iowa's Title IV-E Waiver for Subsidized Guardianship [Read more] This project was an evaluation of the implementation, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of Iowa's subsidized guardianship program. Youth meeting the eligibility criteria based on age and permanency status were randomly assigned to an experimental group that had the option of subsidized guardianship or a control group that did not have this option. The project was supported by the Iowa Department of Human Services and the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2007 - 2009). DMC
Resource Center & Minority Youth and Families Initiative [Read
more] Nationally, minority juveniles in secure detention are greatly over-represented compared to their proportion in the general population. In Iowa, a third of youth held in juvenile detention facilities are minority even though they make up only eight percent of the state's youth population. The DMC Resource Center works statewide with communities to address issues related to the high rate of minority confinement and contact, including community involvement, developing local youth programs, and assisting in the collection and analysis of DMC related data. In 2004 the DMC Resource Center also began work on over-representation in the child welfare system. For more information see the MYFI section of the DMC Resource Center. (2002-2006) Quality Improvement for Early Care, Health and Education Programs: Benton County Kindergarten Readiness[read more] rk oThe results of the study indicate that social-emotional development can facilitate or decrease achievement on early literacy tests. Schools and PreK schools, "must attend to this aspect of the educational process for the benefit of all students" (Zins et al, 2004). As previous research has reported "When schools implement high quality social-emotional learing programs effectively, the academic achievement of children increases, incidences of problem behaviors decrease, and the relationships that surround each child are improved" (Elias, 2003; Richardson et al., 2005). In the context of the No Child Left Behind Act, emphasis on academic achievement needs to be balanced with social-emotional learning. Similar to Gewertz (2003) we conclude that "a deliberate and comprehensive approach to teaching children social and emotional skills can raise their grades and test scores, bolster their enthusiasm for learning, [and] reduce behavior problems...". Clinton Community School District (CCSD) Elementary School Counselor Program This is a three-year project funded by the U.S. Department of Education to support development of a Systems of Care Network within the Clinton Community School District in Eastern Iowa. The project is designed to meet the needs of all elementary students and their families along a continuum of need. Four targeted elementary schools are offering enhanced developmentally-appropriate and culturally-sensitive services through a solution-focused counseling program, teacher training and other capacity building initiatives. The NRCFCPconducted the evaluation of the project and is worked with project staff to improve services. Click here for a Prevention Report article about the project or click here for a recent report from focus groups conducted with parents, students and school staff. (2004-2007) [read more] Evaluation
of Abstinence Only Education in Iowa [2007
Report] Evaluation of Iowa's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Programs This statewide evaluation includes prevention, intervention and community programs addressing reduction of teen pregnancy. The NRC has been evaluating these programs since 1997. Annual reports since 2003 are available by clicking on the report year below: Iowa Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Project (2007 Report) The Iowa Compassion Capital
Fund Demonstration project was intended to build the capacity of Iowa
faith-based organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs)
seeking to better serve Iowans in need. The project is a part of a federal
initiative in response to an executive order from the President of the
United States to strengthen the capacity of FBOs/CBOs (FBCOs) in order
to better address the needs of America’s local communities. The
program evaluation focused on the extent to which the project:
Evaluation
of Strengthening Communities - Youth Evaluation of the Broward County Family Success Center Family Dev. Program The focus of the evaluation was to document processes and measure effectiveness of the family development model as it has been implemented in Broward County Florida. The outcomes of strategies employed by staff and families, the process by which outcomes were achieved and understanding of how the model has worked, where it may be refined, and what lessons have been learned that can inform replication in other Centers is provided in the report. A second focus of the evaluation was to measure and make recommendations for improving community collaboration to reduce fragmentation and foster a more coordinated, comprehensive service delivery system enhancing program effectiveness. [Final Report]. Evaluation
of Community Decision-Making for Permanency Evaluation
of Lean on Me Evaluation
of Iowa CareGivers Association's Certified Nurse Assistant Mentor Training
Project [2002 Report] Social
Network Analysis of the Scott County (IA) DMC (Disproportionate Minority
Contact) Network Evaluation of the Iowa Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration ProjectThe 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 [Read more] Broadway Neighborhood Revitalization Project [Read more] 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 [Read more] Empirical assessment of
the reliability and validity of the California Family Development
Matrix Model. (1999-2001) The University of Iowa
School of Social Work |
