Grants to Address Trafficking Within the Child Welfare Population: Mid-Cycle Synthesis of Process Evaluation Findings

In 2014, the Children’s Bureau awarded nine grants to increase awareness of child trafficking and improve cross-system responses to trafficking within the child welfare population. As part of their 5-year awards, grantees are conducting a mixed-methods process evaluation to document implementation of their innovative projects.

This synthesis, the second in a series of reports about the grantee cluster, summarizes the process evaluation findings as of year 3. JBA released the first report, a summary of grantees’ programs and evaluation plans, in 2016.

Using the cluster’s shared logic model as a framework, the synthesis presents findings addressing outputs and short-term outcomes. These include—

• Cross-system partnerships established to develop coordinated responses and practices
• Number of trainings conducted and number of staff trained
• Increased state-level and local awareness of youth victims of trafficking

The information came from a review of grantee semiannual progress reports and data submitted to JBA in its role as evaluation technical advisor. JBA may provide an additional synthesis of final evaluation findings at the conclusion of the grant.