Linking Early Intervention Quality Practices With Child and Family Outcomes

Linking Early Intervention Quality Practices With Child and Family Outcomes

Sherry Franklin, North Carolina Part C CoordinatorDeborah Carroll, PhD, Branch Head

May 15, 2012

NC Part C Context

State Lead Agency 17 Local Lead Agencies

13 State Employees 4 Contract Agencies

Community Early Intervention Service Providers

Results Component

Continuous Improvement Visit- November 14-18, 2011 Verification Results Component

May – June: Results Focus Selection Family Outcomes Birth to 1 Child Find

Orienting Programs/Providers to Key Practices that Support Child and Family Outcomes

State Interagency Coordinating Council formed a task group to assist in Results Component Selection

Reviewed Family Outcomes Survey and Process

So What?

Reviewed “Relationship of Quality Practices to Child and Family Outcome Measurement Results”

Orienting Programs/Providers to Key Practices that Support Child and Family Outcomes

Families and Stakeholders were able to:

Share their experiences with expected practices

Define common strengths and challenges

Come to consensus on the importance of the skills/training of Early Intervention Service Coordinators

Conducting Self-Assessment of State or Local Performance on Practices

FOCUS MONITORING- PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS

USE OF THE TOOL TO TRAIN MONITORS ON THE PRACTICES THAT HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT ON “KNOW YOUR RIGHTS”

EMBED QUESTIONS RELATED TO PRACTICES IN INTERVIEW TOOLS

NOW WHAT?

HOW TO GET STARTED HOW TO IMPLEMENT A STATEWIDE CHANGE IN PRACTICE HOW TO ACHIEVE DESIRED OUTCOME

Data Accountability Center (DAC)

Bottom Line State-Local Partnership State Implementation Team Local Implementation Team Quality Data Specific Problem/Issue Data-based Decisions

Concord

Durham

Greensboro

Rocky Mount

Our Partnership

Morganton

Shelby

Implementation Team Represents community members and

systems stakeholders Advises and assists systems change Develops & implements clear plans with

assignments of tasks/timelines Keeps implementation process focused Solves problems that arise during the

process.

Fixen, D.L., Naoom, S.F., Blasé, K.A., Freedman, R.M., & Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation Research; A Synthesis of the Literature. Tampa, Florida:

University of South Florida, National Implementation Research Network

Local Implementation Team

MUST INVOLVE A TEAM Program Director or designee Data Person/Quality Assurance staff Providers/staff involved in issue topic Parent Others as needed

* Must be a person with influence/authority

State Implementation Team

MUST INVOLVE A TEAM Administrators Data Person ICC member Parent Others as needed

* Must be a person with influence/authority

DAC Framework for Data UseConsists of three phases w/

several steps:• Preparation Phase

1. Identify relevant data• Inquiry Phase

1. Conduct data analysis2. Determine Root Cause

• Action Phase1. Plan for improvement2. Implement Plan3. Evaluate progress

Proactive Versus ReactiveBoth are Positive

A process to review existing data to select priorities for program improvement.

A process to determine program compliance and effectiveness.

ProactiveA process used to respond to a state identified problem.

A process used to respond to a locally identified problem.

Reactive

DATA QUALITY STANDARDS

How do you know whether the data collected/used is of high quality?

Data Quality Standards

Timely Accurate

Reliable Consistent Objective

Valid Complete Credible

Secure Useful

Interpretable Relevant Transparent Accessible

Data collected, submitted, analyzed, and reported must be:

Initial Questions (Using Available Data)

1. What do you notice? What are the patterns? Trends?2. What kinds of questions do you have as you look at the

available data?3. What other data might you want to explore to dig into

these questions?4. What is the storyline?5. What are these data telling you?6. What do you want to know?

Drill down involves accessing information by starting with a general category and moving

through the hierarchy of field to file to record; it is the act of focusing in to get to the root

cause.Source: Adapted from Webopedia

A hypothesis is defined as “…a starting-point for further investigation from

known facts”. The Concise Oxford Dictionary, 1990)

Why is a Hypothesis Important?

A good hypothesis will help you: 1. Focus your investigation2. Keep you from “losing the forest for

the trees” 3. Ensure that you stay on course in your

investigation

Data Analysis PlanThe analysis plan provides an outline of

additional data that need to be analyzed to test the hypothesis and determine root cause; it helps with preparing a clear and concise presentation of the results of your

analysis activities

Root CauseDetermining the root cause

enables the creation of effective actions to prevent

the problem from re-occurring

DATA BASED DECISION MAKING

Data should be used to drive:Root Cause Analysis leading to a

hypothesis(es)Improvement PlanningEvaluation (effectiveness)

NEXT STEPS Implementation of Pilot experience

Use Information for Improvement and Statewide Implementation Strategies

Questions/Comments