Definitional and Evaluation Tools

What are Definitional and Evaluation Tools?

Definitional Tools describe the problem that the county is trying to solve. They explain the logic underlying the intervention and articulate the benefits for children, youth, and families. The logic models in the Definitional Tools serve as the basis for evaluating program outputs and progress that has been made towards achieving the long-term goals of implementation. The integrity of data is essential in this effort.

Approach

The ICWA Toolkit is based on logic models that guide the development of stronger collaborative relationships between counties, local Tribes, and Tribal communities to realize the intent of the Indian Child Welfare Act and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes for children and families.

Description of a Logic Model

The logic model is a mapping of actions, measures, and results that address a specified problem through the components of program implementation. It is a simple, logical illustration of what the program does, why the program does it, and how observers will know if the program is successful.

  • Logic Model I

    Focus on Proper Identification of a Native American Child
    This logic model shows the steps by which organizational and practice changes can increase the proper identification of Indian children and decrease disproportionality reflected in outcome measures.

  • Logic Model II

    Focus on Proper Placement of a Native American Child
    This logic model shows the steps by which organizational and practice changes can increase the proper placement of Indian children and decrease disproportionality reflected in outcome measures.

  • Data Collection and Its Impact on Indian Child Welfare Act Compliance Measures

    Accurate data is fundamental to evaluating the effects of toolkit implementation. This document explains the current challenges to data integrity and provides basic tips to social workers for entering data in the Child Welfare Services Case Management System.

Toolkit Highlights

  • In table form, the Toolkit Highlights provide an at-a-glance perspective of the key components and outcomes of implementation.
  • View or download Toolkit Highlights (Word version)