Advanced Analytics and Data Slam is a two-part course designed to build child welfare leaders’ skills in evidence-based strategic planning. In Advanced Analytics, participants will learn how to analyze administrative data to answer mission-critical questions about system performance. In the following Data Slam, students use their newly developed skills to create a small project about an opportunity for improvement in their own county. Participants are expected to attend both components.
This course will support managers to develop an information management and operations strategy that enables them to address critical issues in their county child welfare system while being responsive to the mandates under which they operate. Leaders interested in aligning county-based improvement efforts with their county’s C-CFSR Self-Assessment and SIP (System Improvement Plan) will benefit greatly from this training. We strongly encourage counties to bring a team comprised of leadership, analysts, quality assurance and/or administrative staff and other child welfare staff who are responsible for monitoring and improving outcomes for child welfare.
After attending this series, participants will have improved ability to:
- Structure the Plan-Do-Study-Act process of improvement around child and family outcomes
- Develop an evidence-based theory of change
- Generate evidence about system performance that is valid, reliable, and free of bias
- Avoid common measurement pitfalls
- Observe variation in child and family outcomes to identify populations that need attention
- Acquire/generate evidence from the CCWIP website to identify a particular system improvement priority and support a theory of change
- Develop and present a short PowerPoint presentation that uses evidence to build a narrative around the opportunity for improvement with support and feedback from the instructor and peers
- Build capacity in communicating evidence to stakeholders such as a board of supervisors, philanthropic foundations, and community partners