Evaluation of the Foster Care Evaluation Services (FaCES) Clinic. The goal of this evaluation is to demonstrate whether the clinic is increasing the number of children who receive health screening at intake in the foster care system through analytical comparison between FaCES health records and Medicaid claims data as well as surveys of both social workers and foster families.  In addition, CAR staff will examine whether these children have identified health care gaps such as immunization or medication lapses, and whether they are more likely than the general foster care population to receive ongoing medical services following their initial screening at the FaCES clinic.
For more information contact Jennifer Ellingwood

Evaluation of Team Fresh Start, a DSS Mentoring Program. A process evaluation was conducted for a DSS pilot program designed to provide infants involved with DSS in the central region of Massachusetts with one-on-one fostering. The program provides mentoring for birth parents by the infant’s foster parents to help them develop parenting skills and encourage reunification. The program employs concurrent permanency planning for the infant to ensure a timely permanent placement. CAR designed and implemented a process evaluation for birth parents and foster parents with a goal to revise practices and services to assure that the best interests of the child are addressed by the program.
For more information contact Martha Henry 

Adoption Attitudes Survey.  The Center for Adoption Research (CAR) drafted a statewide survey that measured attitudes toward adoption of children with special needs in foster care. Data from the study was used to design recruitment and retention strategies for adoptive parents.  Stakeholder reviews of the questionnaire were completed through computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI), in the fall-winter of 2005, and the results are now available online in three Knowledge and Attitudes Survey policy briefs.
For more information contact Jennifer Coakley