Evaluation is an essential tool for program managers and funders to promote best practices within family support programs, obtain feedback from program participants, and report the impact of services for children and families.  NHCTF grantee programs have consistently provided information from their own community-based programs, yet this individual program data could not be analyzed to effectively reflect the impact of family support across the Granite State.

This is why NHCTF has taken a leadership role and formed the Outcome Accountability Project.  Since 2002, NHCTF has worked in collaboration with New Hampshire family support programs, the NH Division for Children, Youth, and Families, and the FRIENDS National Resource Center to create and administer the Family Support Program Outcome Survey (Outcome Survey).  The Outcome Survey is a survey tool that measures parent report of change across seven key protective factors.  Research has shown that protective factors such as knowledge of child development, confidence in parenting, and supportive relationships reduce the risk of child maltreatment. 

We have successfully administered this survey to participants in programs in every county across NH for the past three years.  Data has consistently shown that program participants are experiencing statistically significant levels of positive change across every protective factors measured.  Publishing and presenting these results is a stepping stone to spreading the message of the importance of primary prevention programs that work to keep children safe and families strong.  NHCTF is committed to working with programs that serve children and families to utilize an evaluation method that promotes evidence-based practice while telling the story of the work that programs are doing everyday with children and families to prevent child maltreatment.

If you would like to know more about the Outcome Accountability Project in New Hampshire, please contact our Family Support Outcomes Director, Katie Brandt at 603.224.1279 or kbrandt@nhctf.org

To view the reports produced from the Outcome Accountability Project click here.

Resources to Learn More About Evaluation & Evidence-Based Practice

Resources for Evidence-Based Practice

FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

Logic Model Builder for Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention/Family Support Programs

Logic Models - Frequently Asked Questions

W.K. Kellogg Foundation – Evaluation Toolkit

Recent Workshop Handouts & Information

Evidence-Informed & Evidence-Based Practices

Workshop Date:  November 19, 2007