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Research and Information Systems
CHSR conducts research in a variety of areas including child welfare, child and adult mental health, neighborhood revitalization, literacy training, service integration, and managed care. Current projects and completed projects include the following:
Current Projects
Safe Schools/Healthy Students
Healthy Families New York/Home Visiting Program Evaluation
Evaluation of the NYS Collocation Demonstration Project
Evaluation of "Families Together in Albany County" (New York) / SAMHSA System of Care for Children and Families
Evaluation of "Family Matters of Orange County" (New York) SAMHSA System of Care for Children and Families
AmeriCorps Project Evaluation
New York State Family Resource Center Study
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services Program (APPS) MIS
SAMHSA Management Information System
Assessing the Need for Outreach Services for African-American Women
Completed Projects
A Study of Legally Exempt Child Care in Albany County, New York
Children's Coordinated Services Initiative (CCSI) Training Evaluation
Assessing and Addressing the Need for Child Psychiatry in NYS
Evaluation of the NYS Integrated County Planning (ICP) Initiative
Hospital Emergency Room Study
Evaluation of the NYS Coordinated Children's Initiative (CCSI)
Buffalo New York Healthy Start Evaluation
Evaluation of the Northeast Parent & Child Society(NPCS) Mentoring Program
Safe Schools/Healthy Schools Initiative (2009 to 2012)
CHSR is conducting a four year evaluation of the City School District of Albany’s Safe Schools/Healthy Schools (SS/HS) Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to improve academic outcomes of students by reorganizing and expanding school and community services offered to children and their families so that students in Albany may learn, live, and prosper in safe and supportive environments. CHSR’s evaluation will consist of a process and outcome study. The evaluation has been an integral part of the SS/HS planning and implementation, and will address such general questions as:
1) To what extent have the needs of the target population been addressed?
2) To what degree have program goals been attained?
3) To what extent can outcomes be attributed to the program?
4) How have materials, equipment, and facilities associated with the program been utilized?
5) To what extent have the program’s components, procedures, and activities been implemented as designed?
Dr. Kenneth Robin is the lead evaluator for this project. Dr. Robin, who also serves as an official member of this initiative’s Advisory Board and Management Team, will provide timely and ongoing feedback at monthly meetings to involve program administrators and other key stakeholders in a process of continuous program improvement and related value added concerns.
Contact Person: Kenneth Robin, Ph.D.
Phone: 518-591-8797 Email: krobin@uamail.albany.edu
Healthy Families New York/Home Visiting Program Evaluation (1995 to present)
Since 1995, CHSR has been conducting a study of New York State's home visiting initiative, a multi-site program designed to decrease child abuse and neglect, increase parental self sufficiency, and enhance child health and development. The research includes a random assignment study at select sites and an implementation study statewide. The Center has designed and maintains a management information system installed at 29 Healthy Families New York/Home Visiting sites. In addition to providing evaluation data, the system is capable of producing on-site statistical reports for program monitoring and to fulfill documentation requirements.
Random Assignment Study
Healthy Families New York Home Visiting Data Management System
Contact Person: Rose Greene
Phone: 518-442-5774 Email: rgreene@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of the NYS Collocation Demonstration Project (2007 to 2009)
CHSR, in partnership with OCFS and OASAS, will evaluate New York State 's 3 year demonstration project using a collocation model. This demonstration program is to address substance abuse problems in the child welfare system using a collocation model. The program aims to improve screening of substance abuse problems, early identification of substance abusing parents and PINS, timely referral and engagement and retention in treatment programs.
Eight counties (Genesee, Livingston, Onondaga, Fulton, St Lawrence, Westchester, Dutchess, and Orange ) have been selected to participate in this demonstration. The counties will hire substance abuse counselors to be placed within their local child welfare offices, will use universal screening and assessment forms, and will adhere to the program guidelines.
The evaluation will be comprised of a process study and an outcome study. The process study will involve field visits to all 8 sites and will collect data through interviews and focus group with collocaiton staff, CPS staff, and administrators. The outcome study will use a randomized control design in one site. After screening, CPS clients will be randomized to the control group (practice as usual) or the program (enhanced services from substance abuse counselors) group. To facilitate the program administration and assist with the evaluation, the Center will also design a Management Information System.
Contact: Eunju Lee, Ph. D.
Phone: 518-442-5773 Email: elee@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of "Families Together in Albany County" (New York) SAMHSA System of Care for Children and Families (2004 to 2010)
In October 2004, Albany County joined over 100 SAMHSA-funded communities across the nation engaged in developing systems of care to deliver coordinated mental health services for children and adolescents with a serious emotional disturbance and their families. CHSR is participating in a national longitudinal evaluation of the system of care. The evaluation includes qualitative and quantitative assessments to measure child and family impacts and service system reforms. Individual outcomes will be measured by conducting family and youth interviews at 6-month intervals over the course of the project. Evaluators are employing a family empowerment approach to meaningfully engage families in the implementation of the research.
Contact Person: LuAnn McCormick, Ph.D.
Phone: 518-442-5731 Email: lmccormick@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of "Family Matters of Orange County" (New York) SAMHSA System of Care for Children and Families (2008 to 2014)
Orange County is one of 130 System of Care for Children’s Mental Health communities, a grant initiative from the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). A system of care is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. Orange County’s initiative, Family Matters of Orange County, is a collaborative effort headed by the Orange County Department of Mental Health. CHSR is leading the congressionally-mandated, mixed-methods evaluation of this initiative. The Descriptive Study collects demographic characteristics, social and functional characteristics, mental health diagnoses and presenting problems on all children/youth entering the system of care. The Longitudinal Child and Family Outcome Study uses a combination of questionnaires and standardized instruments regarding: children’s emotional and behavioral status, strengths, educational performance, criminal justice system involvement, living environments, caregiver strain, family functioning, service utilization, and child and family satisfaction with services. Families and youth are interviewed in-person at 6-month intervals over the course of the project. Evaluators are employing a family empowerment approach to meaningfully engage families in the implementation of the research. Data collection will begin October 2009.
Contact Person: LuAnn McCormick, Ph.D.
Phone: 518-442-5731 Email: lmccormick@uamail.albany.edu
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A Study of Legally-Exempt Child Care in Albany County New York (2005 to present)
Subsidized legally exempt child care is a common choice for both public assistance households and the working poor, yet little is known about the providers, the quality of care, and evidence-based strategies to strengthen this type of care arrangement. According to the NYS Office of Children and Family Services, of the approximately 175,000 children receiving subsidized child care services in 2002, 68,000 children or 39 percent of the children in the program received care from legally exempt providers. Within Albany County , there are approximately 2,500 children in subsidized care on a monthly basis.
To meet the needs and address the challenges faced by legally exempt providers in Albany County, CHSR, in partnership with the Albany County Department of Social Services, the Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council and the Professional Development Program, was awarded a one year grant by the NYS Office of Children and Family Services. The project consisted of the following components:
- Literature review of best practices conducted around the country to improve legally exempt child care around the country
- Analysis of Albany County data on legally exempt child care providers and the families who use this type of child care
- Focus groups and telephone interviews with legally exempt child care providers and the families who use this type of child care to assess needs, challenges, strengths, and interests
- Implementation and evaluation of an intervention for Albany County legally exempt child care providers based on the literature review and findings from the focus groups and telephone interviews.
Contact Person: Lara Kaye
Phone: 518-591-8615 Email: lkaye@uamail.albany.edu
AmeriCorps Project Evaluation (2006 to 2009)
CHSR's evaluation of New York 's AmeriCorps* State programs began in 2006, and is designed to provide evidence of a causal relationship between program activities and outcomes related to the volunteer work force.
AmeriCorps is a national network of service programs comprised of individuals who provide services to meet community needs in such areas as education, public safety, health, and the environment. A common goal of AmeriCorps programs is to mobilize community volunteers and to strengthen the capacity of the organizations where they serve. To help achieve this goal, each state program is involved in the Volunteer Generation initiative. CHSR will perform a statewide data collection effort to evaluate New York 's AmeriCorps* State programs, focusing on identification of effective practices in recruiting, training and supporting volunteers.
CHSR will design and deploy a web-based Management Information System (MIS) that will track Volunteer Generation activities and outcomes across programs. Through this database, AmeriCorps directors will have access to information that will help them improve their capacity to recruit and manage volunteers and to report on volunteer activities. By establishing links among volunteer characteristics, recruitment strategies, and service activities, data will allow programs to target their efforts and accurately match interests of the volunteer workforce to specific service needs. Information gathered through the evaluation is intended to expand both the reach and quality of services offered.
Contact Person: Kenneth Robin, Ph.D.
Phone: 518-591-8797 Email: krobin@uamail.albany.edu
New York State Family Resource Center Study (2001 to present)
CHSRr has been working with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services to gather data to support the activities and services of Family Resource Centers located throughout New York State . Family Resource Centers are voluntary programs that offer broad based support for families living within a designated area. The goals of the program are to enhance family strengths, promote positive parenting, foster healthy child development and increase self sufficiency. CHSR has developed a database application that has been installed at each of the Family Resource Centers to assist in monitoring activities, tracking participation and administrating programs.
CHSR has developed a web-based database application for the Family Resource Centers to centralize the data and allow for statewide aggregated reports.
In addition, CHSR conducts yearly participant telephone surveys to determine how satisfied participants are with the Family Resource Center facilities, to see how families have benefited from services, and to determine how services may be improved.
Contact: Sarah Rain
Phone: 518-591-8752 Email: srain@uamail.albany.edu
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services Program MIS (2003 to present)
CHSR is working with the NYS Office of Children and Family Services to gather data to support the activities of Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Services (APPS) initiative located throughout New York State. APPS Centers offer support for adolescents between the ages of 15 and 21 who live in areas where there is a high incidence of teenage pregnancy. The goals of the program are to prevent pregnancy, teach parenting skills, keep clients in school and increase self-sufficiency.
CHSR has designed and developed a web based application that helps administer the programs, tracks clients, measures outcomes and provides accurate statistics for the annual report to the Governor and legislature.
Contact: Chris Papas
Phone: 518-442-5425 Email: cpapas@uamail.albany.edu
SAMHSA Management Information System (MIS) (2005 to present)
CHSR has developed a Management Information System to support the administrative, reporting, programmatic and evaluation needs of the Albany County SAMHSA project.
Contact: Dorothy Baum
Phone: 518-442-4137 Email: dbaum@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of the Child Welfare Financing Initiative (2006 to 2007)
The child welfare financing provisions contained in Chapters 53 and 83 of the Laws of 2002 preserved the foster care block grant while uncapping the State's financial participation in social services districts' provision of non-placement services, such as preventive services, aftercare, and independent living services. In addition, the Child Welfare Financing (CWF) legislation established a special revenue fund known as the Quality Enhancement Fund, to support activites to imporve the availabliity and quality of child welfare services.
The Quality Enhancement Fund supported four initiatives: (1) care coordination for children in foster care; (2) permanency mediation; (3) mentoring for youth returning form congregate care; and (4) assistance to local districts in implementing the Child and Family Services Review Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
The evaluation explored the implementation and impacts of the two primary programs receiving funding from the Quality Enhancement Fund -- Care Coordination and Permanency Mediation.
Contact: Rebecca Coleman
Phone: 518-474-9426 Email: Rebecca.Colman@ocfs.state.ny.us
Assessing and Addressing the Need for Child Psychiatry in NYS (2007 to 2008)
CHSR collaborated with the New York State Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors to conduct a needs assessment for child psychiatry and mental health services for children in New York State.
The project consisted of three components:
• A secondary analysis of projected demographic trends in NYS counties that impact on children's mental health service needs and the need for child psychiatrists
• A literature review that explores other model initiatives and efforts that have been implemented nationally to address the need for child psychiatrists and other mental health services in other parts of the country
• Developing and administering a survey in each county to determine current local strategies, alternative models, barriers, level of service coordination and other issues related to the need for child psychiatrists and child mental health services
The project was informed by an advisory group comprised of experts and practitioners in the field of children's mental health.
Contact Person: Lara Kaye
Phone: 518-591-8615 Email: lkaye@uamail.albany.edu
Assessing the Need for Outreach Services for African-American Women (2-2007 to 9-2007)
Through support from the Center for Child Welfare and Intergenerational Drug Abuse, focus groups gathered data on African-American women's perceptions of 1) why they think African-American women become addicted and contract HIV and STDs 2) the need for culturally-specific outreach services for African-American women in the greater capital area, and 3) barriers to providing culturally-specific outreach services in community agencies. Findings from this focus group study were used as preliminary data for a NIH/NIDA grant proposal.
Contact Person: Cathleen Lewandowski
Phone: 518-591-8784 Email: clewandowski@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of the NYS Integrated County Planning (ICP) Initiative (1998 to 2004)
The evaluation assessed the implementation and effects of ICP, a multi-site demonstration project designed to establish a interagency county planning process that improves outcomes for children, youth and families. The early stages of the evaluation consisted of a process study to document the operations of ICP with a focus on identifying the ingredients of successful interagency collaboration and planning as well as the barriers to meeting program objectives. In later years, the focus of the evaluation shifted to an analysis of program outcomes.
Contact Person: Rose Greene
Phone: 518-442-5774 Email: rgreene@uamail.albany.edu
Hospital Emergency Room Study (2000)
This study was designed to provide information to improve the delivery of services in an Upstate New York Emergency Room. The research team collected and analyzed data on emergency deployment, patient flow, and operations. The study provided the basis for management decisions that resulted in the following outcomes: 1) increased volume in emergency department admissions; 2) improved patient satisfaction and 3) increased cost efficiencies. The evaluation consisted of a qualitative and quantitative analysis.
Contact Person: Eunju Lee
Phone: 518-442-5773 Email: elee@uamail.albany.edu
Evaluation of the NYS Coordinated Children's Initiative (CCSI) (1998)
In 1998, CHSR evaluated CCSI, an interagency effort to reduce out-of-home residential placements of children with emotional disabilities. The evaluation was designed to describe the implementation and assess the effectiveness of the initiative. The research team used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods.
The qualitative component consisted of conducting a series of on-site structured interviews with a sample of CCSI counties. In the quantitative component the research team analyzed existing data on New York State's residential placements from 1993 through 1997 - covering the pre-CCSI period through the most recent available year. The available data included the number of children in each of the state's residential systems (Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Education, and Mental Health) in each year and the per diem costs of each system. The team compared CCSI counties with non-CCSI counties, changes in placements of over time, and changes in placements by system.
Contact Person: Rose Greene
Phone: 518-442-5774 Email: rgreene@uamail.albany.edu
Buffalo New York Healthy Start Evaluation (1997 to 2001)
CHSR served as the local evaluator for the Buffalo Healthy Start Program. The evaluation design assessed program performance through longitudinal comparisons of participant status indicators and outcomes. Performance measures relevant to the Buffalo Healthy Start program were identified from Federal guidelines and definitions. Baseline data on these measures, consisting of data from the local population, preliminary data from the initial six months of program experience and yearly analysis of the local population, were gathered and analyzed. Guided by the results of this analysis, quantitative objectives were set for evaluating program performance.
The Healthy Families New York/Home Visiting data collection system, which was developed by CHSR, was used to collect data for the Healthy Start model. A yearly reporting system module was added to meet the evaluation reporting requirements for the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration of the Department of Heath and Human Services.
Contact Person: John Heck
Phone: 518-442-5719 Email: jheck@uamail.albany.ed
Evaluation of the Northeast Parent & Child (NPCS) Mentoring Program (2005 to 2006)
CHSR conducted an evaluation of NPCS’ mentoring program by looking at the program’s impact on the following desired outcomes:
1. Sustained Student-Mentor Matches
2. Improved GPA
3. Decreased Unexcused Absences
4. Provide Quality Mentoring Relationships
5. Improved Academic Performance
6. Improved Interpersonal Relationships
7-8. Reduced Dropout Rate & Reduce Juvenile Delinquency and Involvement in Gangs
Additionally, CHSR constructed an ACCESS database for NPCS to collect data as stipulated by their funding sources and to collect the program data listed above.
Contact: Kenneth Robin, Ph.D.
Phone 518-591-8797 Email: krobin@uamail.albany.edu
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