Giving Compass' Take:

· The Annie E. Casey Foundation explains how Washington and Wisconsin are using integrated data systems to improve the lives of children in foster care. 

· How can this type of information be useful to donors who are interested in advocacy?

· Here's how integrated data is being used to improve the outcomes of vulnerable families.

Children who spend time in foster care typically do not fare well on many outcomes later in life. Child welfare agencies strive to reduce the time children spend in foster care, but their efforts can be undermined by the unintended consequences of actions taken by other agencies that are simultaneously working with the same families.

The states of Wisconsin and Washington used integrated data systems to evaluate and understand how child support enforcement policies and receipt of TANF benefits affect the time kids spend in child welfare placements. This information led to state policymakers working toward improved family reunification outcomes by enabling their child-focused systems to collaborate more efficiently.

This case study is one in series of briefs that make a case for how investment in IDS pays off in improved outcomes and better allocation of resources.

Read the full article about using integrated data systems to improve child welfare at The Annie E. Casey Foundation.