Evidence-Building Evaluation Strategies for Untested and Promising Child Welfare Programs

Child welfare systems increasingly look to evidence-based programs and practices when serving children and families. This has intensified with the Family First Prevention Services Act, which provides title IV-E funding to agencies for foster care prevention programs that are supported by evidence.

Organizations that want to build evidence for an untested or promising child welfare program may seek review and rating from a clearinghouse that collects and documents evidence of program benefits. This brief highlights the key elements and evaluation criteria of relevant evidence clearinghouses, factors for deciding whether to submit a program for an evidence review, considerations for evaluation design and organizational capacity, and steps in planning for evaluation.