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Growing Data Analysts from within the IV-E MSW Program

Growing Data Analysts from within the IV-E MSW Program . Salvador Montana, Ph.D. Maria Bravo, MSW. Background. March 16, 2011: CalSWEC /CSSR Symposium on Title IV-E Research Course Work.

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Growing Data Analysts from within the IV-E MSW Program

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  1. Growing Data Analysts from withinthe IV-E MSW Program Salvador Montana, Ph.D. Maria Bravo, MSW

  2. Background • March 16, 2011: CalSWEC /CSSR Symposium on Title IV-E Research Course Work. • The Problem: IV-E students rank research courses as their least favorite classes in the program (anecdotal…) • coursework feels disconnected from practice • most students do not enter with strong math or stats backgrounds – high anxiety • timeline allows only a superficial coverage of analytic methods • general lack of “statistical literacy”

  3. Implementing the Fresno StateTitle IV-E Research Pilot Course • Conversations/Discussions • Faculty Buy-in • Title IV-E Program • Central California Training Academy (CCTA) • Central California Area Social Services Consortium (CCASSC) • Regional Business Objects • MSW Students (Recruitment)

  4. Fresno StateMSW Curriculum – Foundation Year

  5. Fresno StateMSW Curriculum – Advance Year

  6. Course Description The course is atwo semesters course culminating in students completing their MSW Project/Thesis. • The course is oriented around the secondary analysis of publicly available data sources • The course primarily uses data from Child Welfare Performance Indicators Project housed at UC Berkeley’s Center for Social Services Research (CSSR), • The practical components of data analysis and presentation are emphasized with students given opportunities to work hands-on with data

  7. Course Goals • Experience the use of the publicly available and county administrative data. • Understand and experience of how research & data informs Social Work practice and policy. • Demonstrate an ability to assess and evaluate CWS outcome data and other social indicator data to better understand social problems and formulate research questions. • Better consumers of research. • Preparedness for leadership roles in human services agencies.

  8. Pedagogical Approach • A collaborative research venture between county child welfare agencies, students and the university for the purpose of better informing agency practice. • Emphasized by asking students to align their research project with agency performance goals or mandates • Help students connect classroom instruction to their experiences in the field by working with administrative data relevant to their agency and clients.

  9. Levels of County Participation

  10. Course Assignments • Annotated Bibliographies • Verbal Outline Presentation Assignment • Initial Drafts of Chapters 1, 2, 3 of the Research Proposal (Oct./Nov. 2012) • Meetings with instructor to discuss students’ ideas, thinking, problem formulation and conceptual framework • Human Subjects Application (Nov./Dec. 2012) • Dec. 2012, 2nd draft Chapters 1, 2, &3, Final drafts of all five chapters May 2013

  11. Description of Student Projects • Evaluate-Out Analysis (Calaveras, Madera, Kings):  A descriptive study ( 2 students) using CSSR & CRC/SDM data to examine decision-making pathways for child maltreatment referrals.   • Sibling Placements. (Fresno, Madera, Kings and Madera Counties): A descriptive study using CSSR and county administrative data.  County administrative data examines reasons for not placing sibling together in these counties. • Father Involvement in Reunification Cases (Fresno County):  This study uses Fresno County administrative data.  Data pulled was any adult male in a reunification service plan in 2012.  Adult males in the service plan serves as a proxy for father involvement as it assumes the adult male is a father to at least one of the children.   • Reentry after Reunification (Fresno, Madera, King and Tulare): A descriptive study using CSSR data.  The focus of the study was differences in reentry for Hispanics compared to other ethnic groups. • Placement Stability (Fresno County): CSSR data and county administrative data indicating for reason for placement change, length of placement (days) and number of prior placements. Largely descriptive but analyzed group differences for placement stability (county administrative data) between gender and younger vs older foster youth.

  12. Description of Student Projects • Timely Medical Visits (San Luis Obispo, Kings & Fresno): A descriptive using CSSR and county administrative data.  County administrative data examines most prevalent health condition in each county. • Relative Placement Stability (Fresno & Madera):  A descriptive using CSSR data and county administrative data.  Study explores whether relative placement are more stable.  Administrative data examines length of placement by placement type. • Transitional Foster Youth and School Connectedness (Fresno County):  A descriptive study uses CSSR and Kidsdata to explore the whether the concept of school connectedness bears any relevance to youth transitional out of foster care. • Substance Abuse in Child Welfare (Fresno County): This descriptive study used CSSR and county administrative data. Study examined reunification outcomes and the prevalence of substance abuse in reunification cases.  County administrative data was mined for substance abuse services in the reunification service plan. • Child welfare and Immigrant Populations. (Fresno County): Study explores recent immigration policy of detention and deportation conducted by Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and  its effects on reunification efforts of children when parents are detained/deported.  County administrative data reflects children who are  undocumented and legal permanent resident and assume that at least one parent maybe undocumented.  

  13. Examples of Student Work

  14. Fresno County 2010 Hispanic / Latino Population (U.S. Census)

  15. Fresno County 2010 Population by Place of Birth (U.S. Census)

  16. Fresno County Open Cases (all programs)on January 22, 2013

  17. Timely Medical ExamsSan Luis Obispo County

  18. Prevalent Health Conditions: Fresno, Kings, and San Luis Obispo Counties on December 31, 2012

  19. Calaveras County:Allegation Type/Evaluated Out

  20. Evaluated Out: County/California Comparison

  21. A Former Student’s Reflection • Understanding CSW decision-making processes and performance outcomes. • FFA/CWS team, data: • contacts, & therapeutic and crisis interventions • performance indicators. • Use data for evaluation and practice enhancement. • Fiscal resources (acquisition & accountability) • Data initially intimidating • Confident with data analysis and presentation • Leadership in the future

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