One impediment to collecting outcomes data is that goals must often change in midstream, especially in dependency cases. NCLN has designed a system to capture that reality by selecting and dating specific goals, then marking whether that goal was achieved or if it was superseded by another goal either at the request of the client or the advocate.
NCLN has defined goals in several broad categories, including permanency, education, delinquency, to cover different presenting problems and additional issues that can arise in whole—child representation. The menu of goals arose from several years of discussion and open—ended data collection by NCLN members.
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Permanency Goals |
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Education Goals |
Organizations interested in learning more about the development of the Legal Services Outcomes Database may contact one of the NCLN Partners or M. Christine Kenty, Ph.D., Director of Research and Evaluation at the Support Center for Child Advocates (ChrisK@advokid.org).
NCLN’s database supports our efforts to develop outcomes measures and better data collection methods in order to improve legal services for children.