Harnessing Data to Strengthen Child Welfare: Lessons from HCW’s Research

At Helping Children Worldwide (HCW), we believe that data is more than just numbers—it’s a powerful tool for learning, improving, and making a greater impact. Together with our allies, we are increasingly focusing on evaluating our work’s effectiveness and sharing our findings with the broader child welfare community.

In September 2024, CRC Case Management Supervisor George Kulanda, Dr. Laura Horvath, and Dr. Sarah Neville Jimenez presented the results of a small but insightful research project at the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) Summit in Nashville, where over 1,000 attendees participated both virtually and in person (Yasmine Vaughan presented this same research at the ICAR8 conference). This research, led by Dr. Neville Jimenez, examined the impact of the CRC’s Firmly Rooted Family Strengthening Workshop on caregivers and their relationships with their children. Building on this momentum, Dr. Neville Jimenez recently presented a poster on the research at Brown University’s Department of Psychiatry and Human Development. 

The study used a pre-and-post survey methodology to compare caregivers who attended the workshop with those who did not. The workshop’s interactive, play-based curriculum focused on basic household economic literacy and attachment-building techniques. Results showed that after the workshop, caregivers reported more instances of comforting their children and increased occurrences of parents and children apologizing to each other. However, no statistically significant changes were detected in financial habits or other attachment markers—likely because such behaviors take time to develop and may require longer-term measurement. The study also suggested that separating financial literacy and attachment-building into distinct workshops would allow participants to absorb and apply each concept more effectively.

At HCW, we embrace the philosophy that "data is just data"—neither good nor bad, but a tool that helps us refine our work. Through ongoing data collection and analysis, we gain deeper insight into how our programs truly affect the people we serve. This research has already led HCW and CRC to revise the curriculum to enhance its effectiveness for CRC clients.
Sharing our findings is just as important as conducting research. Opportunities like the CAFO Summit, ICAR8 and the Brown University presentation allow us to contribute to the global child welfare knowledge base.

By openly sharing what we learn, we help drive positive change, ensuring that vulnerable children and families receive the best possible support.
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As we move forward, we remain committed to research-driven solutions that make a tangible difference. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.