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THE RESEARCH RESOURCE

 Issue 7  |  February 2014 

 
CFRC Releases Differential Response Final Evaluation Report
 

In 2009, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services received funding from the National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response (QIC-DR) to implement and evaluate Differential Response (DR). CFRC Director Tamara Fuller served as the principal investigator for the 4-year evaluation, which compared the outcomes and costs of responding to allegations of maltreatment through traditional child protective services (CPS) investigations versus the newly implemented family assessment response (known as "DR" in Illinois). Over 7,500 families were included in the evaluation to answer three research questions:

  1. How is the assessment response different from the investigation response in terms of family engagement, caseworker practice, and services provided?
  2. Are children whose families receive an assessment response as safe as or safer than children whose families receive an investigation?
  3. What are the cost and funding implications to the child protection agency of the implementation and maintenance of a differential response approach?
The report provides an overview of the development and proliferation of Differential Response over the past two decades, summarizes previous research, and provides descriptions of both the traditional investigation response (IR) and the new differential response (DR). A description of the research design and data collection instruments is offered. Findings are presented that compare the two CPS responses (IR and DR) with regard to parent engagement and satisfaction; service provision; child safety and family well-being; and costs per-case. The Differential Response Final Evaluation Report is available on the CFRC website. 



FY2013 B.H. Monitoring Report Now Available 

 
 
The Children and Family Research Center was created, in part, to monitor the performance of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services under the B.H. Consent Decree. Each year since 1997, the CFRC has compiled a comprehensive report that describes over 40 child welfare indicators in five key outcome areas including child safety; stability in foster care; continuity with kin, siblings, and community; legal permanence (reunification, adoption, and guardianship), and child and family well-being. Using data from a variety of sources and easy to understand graphics, the results of the annual B.H. monitoring report allow the Department of Children and Family Services and its stakeholders to examine whether performance on key indicators is improving, declining, or remaining static. The FY2013 B.H. Monitoring report, which examines performance through the end of FY2012, is now available on the CFRC website. 

 

 

2nd Annual LGBT Research Symposium: Call for Papers and Presentations

 

An Interdisciplinary Symposium on LGBT Research in the Social Sciences

Intersectional Identities in LGBTQ Research

May 21-22, 2014

I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign, IL

Submission Deadline:  February 28, 2014

Cost:  A minimal registration fee will include a boxed lunch. Registration details to follow.

 

Keynote Speaker:

Russell Toomey, PhD, Kent State University

Dr. Toomey is an Assistant Professor in Human Development and Family Studies at Kent State University. His research examines why marginalized youth in the United States (e.g., gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth; Latino youth) experience disparate rates of poor health (mental and physical), developmental, and academic outcomes, and attempts to identify the processes that promote well-being and reduce risk for these populations.
Program:

 

This year's program builds upon the success the 1st LGBT Research Symposium that provided researchers with an opportunity to present their own challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned while conducting social science research with LGBT populations. Based on feedback from symposium attendees, there will be research work groups and an evening program on May 21, 2014. The symposium is scheduled to align with the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry (ICQI) taking place at UIUC in order to attract more participants who may be interested in attending both conferences. The final program will be posted in early April, 2014.  

 

Call for Proposals:

Proposals for presentation at the symposium should fall into one or more of the following themes:
  • Original research with LGBT populations
  • Conceptual, theoretical, and/or methodological issues associated with LGBT research
  • Incorporating LGBT research in practice settings

Request for Proposals details: Proposals should be submitted online and limited to 500 words. Submissions from graduate students are especially encouraged. Proposals may be submitted in the form of paper presentations or panel discussions. Accepted paper presentations will be formed into panel discussions based on similar topics. Panel discussions consist of four presenters and last 80 minutes. Notification of acceptance:  March 15, 2014.   

       

Planning Committee:

Faculty: Ramona Oswald, PhD, Department of Human and Community Development; Joseph Robinson-Cimpian, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology   

 

Graduate Students:
Elizabeth Holman, MS, LSW, Department of Human and Community Development; Megan Paceley, LSW, Doctoral Candidate, School of Social Work; Jeremy Robinett, MA, Doctoral Candidate, Department of Recreation, Sports, and Tourism; Shawn Mendez, Department of Human and Community Development

 

 For more information, please contact:  [email protected]     

 

 

LGBTQ Youth Ages 14 - 18 Sought for Participation in Survey  

 

Teenagers across the state of Illinois are needed for an important study on youth who identify as gender or sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, pansexual, intersex, questioning, queer, or as not straight). Youth across the state of Illinois who are between the ages of 14 and 18 and identify as gender or sexual minorities are eligible to participate.    

 

In Champaign County (and surrounding areas): Youth are invited to participate in an interview and an online survey. Confidential interviews will last between one and two hours. Youth are needed to share their experiences as gender or sexual minorities, particularly about how they feel about their friends, schools, and communities. Eligible youth participating in interviews will receive a $25 Amazon gift card for participating. At the time of the interview, youth will be asked to complete a computer-based survey (much like the one described below). Eligible youth participating in the survey can be entered into a drawing to win one of ten $20 Amazon gift cards.  To schedule an interview, or with questions, contact Megan at 217-244-0871 or via email.  

 

Visit the Youth Support Study Facebook page

 

In Illinois (all areas): Youth are invited to participate in an online survey. The survey will take 30-40 minutes and asks questions about peers, schools, communities, health and other experiences youth may have had. Youth in Illinois who are between the ages of 14 and 18 and identify as gender or sexual minorities are eligible to participate. Eligible youth participating in the survey can be entered to win one of ten $20 Amazon gift cards. The survey can be accessed at: www.ilyouthsupportsurvey.org . If you have questions, contact Megan at 217-244-0871 or via email.