Models That Work PART 1,
WHEN YOU Share KARA’s reporting with FRIENDS, INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK and most of all, your State Representative (find them here) change will come. When enough of us become informed and speak up for abused and neglected children, we will improve their lives and our communities! Follow KARA podcast series here.
About 30 years ago, KARA Co-Founder David Strand published his PHD Thesis Nation Out of Step (it is available to readers upon request – info@invisiblechildren.org with Nation Out of Step request in the subject line) shining a light on the disparity of child outcomes in the U.S. vs those of other advanced nations. David’s research and the research for this series covers a span of about fifty years. This gives a long-term look at policies that work around the world that we could be doing here to improve the lives of at-risk children.
This series comes from the growing disrespect for our institutions and the people doing the work. We hope you will share some of this information with your State Representative and other change makers.
Metrics: Improving What Is Measured
Festering What Is Not
When child welfare agencies focus only on the outcomes that are easiest to measure—such as placement counts and case closure rates—they risk reinforcing and improving those specific metrics while neglecting critical aspects of child well-being, stability, and long-term success that remain unmeasured (Selecting Outcome Measures for Child Welfare). This results in a bringing attention to measurable processes (like timely adoption or reunification) showing improvement, but persistent problems such as repeated foster care entries, criminal involvement, school failure, poor mental health, and teen and preteen pregnancy worsen unchecked because they aren’t systematically tracked or prioritized (Child Welfare Outcomes Understanding and Measuring Child Welfare Outcomes).
If it’s not reported it can’t be a problem.
If it’s not a problem a solution is unnecessary.
Research and expert reviews warn that this selective measurement gives a false sense of progress. Agencies may optimize for what’s counted, while serious but unmeasured issues continue to fester over time (Outcome Measurement in Child Protection: Final Report). Only by developing and applying comprehensive, well-balanced outcome measures—tracking not just administrative outputs but true indicators of child health, safety, mental well-being, and long-term development—can help child welfare systems avoid perpetuating hidden problems (Evaluating Prevention Services in Child Welfare).
In the United States, outcomes measured in the CPS system are primarily determined by the institution itself—specifically, by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in consultation with state child protection agencies (Child Welfare Outcomes Measures – CAHMI, Methodology – Child Welfare Outcomes – HHS.gov, Child Welfare Outcomes 2018 Report to Congress).
Federal mandates (such as those from the Adoption and Safe Families Act) have set a handful of standard data points, but most state agencies select and implement their own primary metrics—and do so chiefly for regulatory compliance or administrative convenience rather than based on external expert guidance (CHILD WELFARE OUTCOMES Understanding and Measuring Child Welfare Outcomes, Child welfare outcomes revisited).
Outside experts, researchers, and judges may advise, but their role is advisory—US agencies retain final control over outcome reporting (Decision-making in Child Protective Services: Influences at multiple levels – PMC).
By contrast, other advanced nations—such as those in Scandinavia, UK, and Australia—employ more independent, collaborative processes to define and measure outcomes.
In the UK and Australia, independent researchers, government-appointed review boards, or parliamentary committees regularly advise and audit CPS outcome data (OUTCOME MEASUREMENT IN CHILD PROTECTION, International approaches to child protection: What can Australia learn?).
Scandinavian countries utilize population-wide parent/caregiver satisfaction, child well-being surveys, and multidisciplinary panels to create and revise outcome frameworks—often mandated by law or with regular review (The ROCKWOOL-Duke global child welfare database – ScienceDirect).
Summary Table: Who Decides CPS Outcome Metrics
| Region/Nation | Who Defines Metrics? | Role for Independent Experts? | Emphasis On Child Well-being/Quality? |
| United States | HHS, state CPS agencies | Limited, advisory only | Low–Medium (mostly compliance and process) |
| Scandinavia | Independent bodies, gov’t | High, multidisciplinary panels | High (parent surveys, well-being tracked) |
| UK/Australia | Gov’t, outside researchers | Moderate–High (appointed oversight) | Medium–High (some child-centered outcomes) |
The U.S. stands out for letting CPS agencies define and measure their own outcomes, while leading nations like those in Scandinavia and the UK rely on independent, multidisciplinary, evidence-based frameworks for child welfare evaluation (International approaches to child protection: What can Australia learn?, OUTCOME MEASUREMENT IN CHILD PROTECTION, The ROCKWOOL-Duke global child welfare database – ScienceDirect, Child welfare outcomes revisited, Child Welfare Outcomes Measures – CAHMI).
Dear Reader, KARA has been funding the Financial Literacy Project, INVISIBLE CHILDREN Campus Programs, public presentations, books, and social media for many years. We have had a really impactful 25 years thanks to our followers. But here’s the reality-as we are an advocacy group not providing service we live on donations alone. We want to keep the momentum going but we need the funds to do so…
So, we are asking for your help as a way to support all our efforts going forward. Please consider a monthly donation of 5 or 25$ to sustain KARA’s ongoing efforts.
An additional choice, would be to sponsor a our new Spotify Social media platform for $500 and receive recognition for you or your organization. Thank you to those who have sponsored a KARA projects in the past!
For stock and legacy donations contact mike@invisiblechildren.org with donations in the Subject line.
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