One of the most vexing questions in child abuse intervention is: How do we know that the work we do makes a difference? We can count the number of kids we serve and the services we provide, but how do we know this actually makes a meaningful difference in the quality of the multidisciplinary team response and to the children and families we serve every single day?

We speak with Seth Boughton, director of data and innovative techniques at the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers, about how we measure the impact of our work. Our Outcome Measurement System, started a decade ago by the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas includes caregiver feedback surveys, multidisciplinary team surveys, and youth feedback surveys. In the wake of our recent report, Healing, Justice, and Trust, we take stock of what we know about children’s and families’ outcomes, and further areas to explore.

Topics in this episode:

• Origin story (2:02)
• Practical uses for data (3:45)
• Outcome Measurement System (6:39)
• Turning our assumptions on their heads (10:54)
• Benchmarks and their uses (15:29)
• ChildSafe (18:05)
• Using data with partner agencies (25:38)
• Future research needed (30:02)
• For more information (45:31)

Links:

Seth Boughton, MSW, is director of data and innovative techniques at the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers. He previously served as a research intern at National Children’s Alliance and still consults with NCA from time to time, including on the 2022 edition of our Healing, Justice, and Trust report.

Healing, Justice, and Trust 2022, a public version of the 2022 report. is available on our website; NCA members can access the member version with detailed data on NCA Engage; an Engage account is required.

Outcome Measurement System

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas

CAC Census; some materials are for members and partners only 

E3 program, Enhance Early Engagement

TF-CBT, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

EMDR, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

CACs and MDTs, Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary teams

ChildSafe San Antonio story from NCA’s 2021 Annual Report

MSW programs, master of social work

NIJ, National Institute of Justice

NCMEC, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Eyes Up Appalachia

SACWIS, Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System

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