Data Dashboard, Evaluation, and Consultation Support for New York State’s Office of Children and Family Services

AIR was asked to identify measures that would (1) gauge the progress of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) toward excellence and equity in the well-being of children, adults, and families; (2) function as a “dashboard” for monitoring; and (3) allow stakeholders to gauge the impacts of reform efforts to improve outcomes for New York State’s citizens. Dashboards were required by OCFS at two levels: One higher-level dashboard that captured the conditions needed to improve outcomes for children, adults, and families, and captured outcomes that allowed OCFS staff to see how much change is being achieved in key areas; and individual detailed dashboards that were specific to the needs of the four OCFS divisions that provide and/or monitor the provision of direct services (Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, the Division of Child Care Services, the Division of Child Welfare and Community Services, and the Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth).