Pictured above: Plans of Safe Care Pilot Team members (Illuminate Colorado, the Colorado Lab, and the Kempe Center) meet with partners from the San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center, the Rural Recovery Network, and Valley-Wide Health providers at Sierra Blanca Medical Center.) Efforts are underway in the San Luis Valley (SLV) to develop a […]
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Early Childhood Evaluation Hub: Synthesis of Initial Evidence
A new Colorado Lab brief offers a bird’s eye view of findings from multiple evaluations underway for stimulus-funded strategies of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC). The Early Childhood Evaluation Hub: Early Insights brief provides a cohesive overview of evidence building to date for evaluations from seven teams. Top-Line Early Insights on CDEC Strategic […]
Interdisciplinary Representation for Parents Improves Outcomes in Complex Child Welfare Cases
The Office of Respondent Parents’ Counsel (ORPC) issued a press release sharing findings of an independent evaluation conducted by the Colorado Lab. The evaluation shows that using an interdisciplinary team to serve parents with complex needs leads to greater success in their child welfare case. Colorado’s ORPC is an independent state agency that provides legal […]
Updated Glossary! Evidence-Based Decision Making
New terms have been added to the Evidence-Based Decision Making (EBDM) Glossary. This resource provides terms that promote a shared understanding of key EBDM concepts. EBDM is the intersection of the best available research evidence, decision-makers’ expertise, and community needs and implementation context. EBDM recognizes that research evidence is not the only contributing factor to […]
Simplify Language: Colorado Lab & CDEC Learning
State agency and research partners recently joined us for a workshop on simplifying language. Building on a wealth of experience working with immigrants and English learners to communicate clearly, Lee Shainis developed the workshop to help nonprofits, government, and others communicate in a way that is easier for people to quickly understand. He walked our […]
Evidence-Based Decision Making: Cue Cards Equip Legislators to Advance EBDM
Colorado policymakers have two new resources for use during the legislative session. “Cue cards”’ were developed by the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, providing legislators with an easy to use set of questions to promote dialogue and advance evidence-based decision making (EBDM). During the first two weeks of the legislative session, the SMART Act Hearing […]
Fostering Opportunities Final Report & Expansion
The Fostering Opportunities Final Report on the Colorado Lab-led randomized controlled trial of Fostering Opportunities shows the groundbreaking program helped students in foster care to be successful in school and earn timely high school credentials. The program was piloted in Jefferson County (Jeffco) Public Schools. Initial findings released last fall led to Fostering Opportunities becoming […]
Plans of Safe Care Pilot Underway in San Luis Valley
Substance use during pregnancy is a growing issue that demands data-informed, family-centered solutions. Stigma about addiction and fears about child welfare involvement mean many pregnant individuals are reluctant to seek treatment and support. Plans of Safe Care (POSC) can be used to engage a network of known, trusted organizations and providers to reduce barriers to […]
Family First Evidence-Building Hub: Annual Evidence-Building Strategy Report
The newly-released Family First Annual Evidence-Building Strategy Report provides ongoing guidance to the Colorado Department of Human Services and Family First implementation partners to ensure strategic investments in evidence-building for programs/services positioned to meet the needs of children, youth, and families. The report includes: In coordinating rigorous evaluation efforts through the Family First Evidence-Building Hub, […]
Evidence-Based Decision Making: SMART Act Cue Card for Legislators
Each January, SMART Act hearings provide a key opportunity to demonstrate the high value Colorado places on EBDM in state government. The tenets of EBDM become readily apparent when legislators ask agency leadership targeted questions about their performance management and process improvement efforts and how evidence informs their ongoing work. To support this process, the […]