Peer-reviewed article

PerformanceStat in Child Welfare: Leveraging Performance Management and Safety Culture to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes

Christina DeNard, Brian Clapier, Zixiaojie Yang · 27 May 2019

Abstract

To improve service provision and outcomes to children and families in the child welfare system, efforts to increase system learning and create a culture that fosters data-driven decision-making and innovation are needed. The following essay takes a lessons-learned approach to discuss how PerformanceStat, a performance management and leadership tool shown to improve outcomes originally in policing and other public sectors, can be implemented into child welfare settings to meet this need. Core components of implementing PerformanceStat- defining the purpose, composing the core team, creating performance measures, preparing for the PerformanceStat meeting, conducting the PerformanceStat meeting, and following up on recommendations- are discussed. Additionally, for each component, ways to create a safety culture throughout the PerformanceStat process that ensures both system and individual-level accountability and that promotes effective and reliable practice are suggested. Actual case examples from the authors’ experiences implementing PerformanceStat across multiple child welfare administrations are provided to illuminate concepts. The essay concludes with an examination of common barriers to PerformanceStat Implementation and possible solutions to equip child welfare leaders as they implement PerformanceStat.