Two New Publications: Building a Deeper Evidence Base & Lessons Learned from Litigation
CSSP is proud to release two new publications on current issues that are relevant to the field and meant to spur thought and action towards achieving better outcomes for all children, youth, families and communities.
EXPANDING THE EVIDENCE UNIVERSE: DOING BETTER BY KNOWING MORE
Research and experience over the past two decades have produced more knowledge about what it takes to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children and families. But despite the nation’s expanded knowledge, we have not been successful in achieving significantly better outcomes at a magnitude that matches the need in critical areas such as healthy births, school readiness, school achievement, physical and mental health and safe neighborhoods.
This paper, authored by CSSP Senior Fellow Lisbeth (Lee) Schorr and Director Frank Farrow, was written for discussion at the Harold Richman Public Policy Symposium, the first in a series of forums honoring the memory of one of CSSP’s co-founders. It provides recommendations related to expanding the knowledge base necessary to improve outcomes and outlines how results-based management and learning can generate new evidence from complex community and system change efforts.
The authors recognize not everyone will agree with these ideas. The paper is put forward to further discussion, prompt additional debate and accelerate the availability of innovative and purposeful strategies to improve life outcomes for children, strengthen families and build healthy, safe and supportive communities - all informed by a still rigorous but more inclusive view of evidence.
For more information on the Harold Richman Public Policy Symposium Series, please contact Lisa Cylar Miller.
FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN: LESSONS LEARNED FROM CLASS ACTION LITIGATION
For 40 years, class action litigation has been used to address difficult and long-standing problems in public child welfare systems. Approximately 70 class action lawsuits are pending or have governed some aspect of child welfare practice in nearly 30 states and almost 20 states are currently implementing consent decrees and/or court orders related to reforming their systems.
Advocates, public officials and other stakeholders have strong views about the long-term costs and benefits of involving the federal or state courts in child welfare policy and practice. This publication brings together a series of papers authored by top experts to address the many factors that increase the likelihood that litigation will result in successful system reform.
The lessons in this volume are intended to accelerate the pace and quality of progress by helping policymakers, agency administrators, lawyers and judges make better and more informed decisions throughout the course of child welfare reform class action litigation.
For additional information contact Judith W. Meltzer.
