Appendix F - Lead Letters and Fact Sheets

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides funding for activities related to the interests of children and families. ACF has hired RTI International (RTI) to conduct the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). You have been selected to take part in the NSCAW. Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. RTI has partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct this national study. We will use the results from the study to make improvements to the child welfare system.

By taking part in the survey, you have a chance to talk about your experiences with the child welfare system. The survey includes questions about your child’s development and their needs from your own point of view. With your permission, we would also like to observe or talk with [NAME OF CHILD] as a part of this research. This will help us better understand what needs families have and what services they access. You will receive [INCENTIVE AMOUNT] to thank you for sharing your input with us. Your child will also receive a gift certificate for participating. Children ages 11 and older receive $20 while children 10 and under receive $10. To help us understand changes over time, we may contact you again in eighteen months. You can decide at that time if you want to take part.

We realize you are busy, taking care of a family, working outside the home, or going to school — perhaps all three. The interviewer in your area will contact you to schedule a time for the interviews. We will conduct the in-person interviews with you and your child at a time and place convenient for you.

Your decision to take part in this study is up to you. We hope you will contribute to this important effort. We will keep the information you and your child provide private to the extent permitted by law. Neither this project nor the local interviewer who will contact you is connected with the child welfare agency. Reports released by RTI will not identify a single person or family. Your involvement does not affect any benefits or services you or your child receive.

The enclosed fact sheet describes the study in more detail. Our interviewer will try to reach you by telephone to schedule the interview. If we cannot reach you by telephone, the interviewer will come in person to explain the survey. They will answer any questions you have at that time. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. I thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D.

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Participation in the described collection of information is voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number for this information collection is 0970-0202 and the expiration date is XX/XX/XXXX.

Caregiver Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

We invite you to take part in an important study called the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about the survey.

The NSCAW is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. As a part of this study, we will examine different reasons families come into contact with the system and the different ways agencies handle situations like yours.

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from children and their parents or guardians. We will also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Why should I participate?

By taking part in this survey, you have a chance to have your voice heard, to talk about your child’s needs from your own point of view, and to help other families in similar situations.

Who sponsors and conducts this study?

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors this study. ACF hired a team of researchers from RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study. The research team is not connected with the child welfare agency.

Who is RTI International?

RTI International (RTI) is a research company located in North Carolina. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies. Our local interviewers will contact and schedule interviews with selected children, families, and caseworkers.

How was I chosen?

In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12-month period. We want to interview you about your child, your experiences with the child welfare system, and your family. As a token of our appreciation, you will receive [INCENTIVE AMOUNT] for your time and your child will receive a gift certificate for participating. Children ages 11 and older receive $20 and children 10 and under receive $10.

What does my involvement require?

We ask questions about your child’s development, including his or her learning, behavior, health, and friendships. We also ask questions about your family’s situation and any services your family may receive.

To help us understand changes over time, we will contact you in eighteen months for another set of interviews. You can decide to join the study at that time.

What is my child’s involvement in the study?

The interviewer will ask for your permission to observe or talk with your child selected for NSCAW. Your child’s involvement varies depending on his or her age. We will observe young children to assess their development and language skills. The interviewer will ask older children about their development, family experiences, school, and friends.

How will you conduct the study?

Our interviewer will make a personal visit to interview the child’s primary caregiver, usually the child’s mother, foster mother, stepmother, or father. The interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer. We will also ask your permission to use information outside of the interview that we may obtain about you or your child for research purposes only.

Shape1 How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries an approval letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and RTI.

How long will it take?

The interview length varies by the age of the child and his or her family experiences. The interview with you lasts about 100 minutes. The child’s interview lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. We will schedule the interviews at a convenient time for you and your child.

Shape2 Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. We keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. No one else (even other household members) will know what you said during the interview. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

We collect your responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI by the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report in summary form. We do not link your name or your child’s name to the information you provide. We keep your names and other identifiers separate from your answers. We only use your name and address to contact you in the future for another interview. We may telephone you or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

What will you ask child welfare agency personnel?

We ask the caseworker about the kinds of child welfare services provided to your child and family. We also ask the caseworker to refer to your child’s service records when answering our questions.

What about Privacy?

All RTI staff members and interviewers signed a Privacy Agreement pledging that they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research participants. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

Three important exceptions to note. (1) If the interviewer or project staff think your child’s life or health is in danger, they will tell the appropriate authorities. (2) Also, if they feel your life or health is in serious danger, they will contact someone qualified to assist you. (3) At some point in the future, a different research company may take over this study. If that happens, with your consent, we would give you and your child’s contact information to the other company.

The interviewer will ask for your permission before approaching your child for an interview. At that point, your child may choose whether or not to participate in the study. To protect your privacy and that of your child, neither of you will know the other’s answers to the interview questions. We combine your answers with responses from thousands of others from around the country. We report results only in percentages, averages, and other statistics.

Where do I get more information about the study?

Shape3 If you have questions, please call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Legal Guardian Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[LEGAL GUARDIAN] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Legal Guardian,

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides funding for activities related to the interests of children and families. ACF has hired RTI International (RTI) to conduct the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. RTI has partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct this national study. We will use the results from the study to make improvements to the child welfare system.

We selected [NAME OF CHILD] for participation in the study because of their involvement with the child welfare system. By taking part, participants have a chance to talk about their experiences with the child welfare system. This can help us better understand how the system serves children with different needs. Older children receive questions on their development, family experiences, school, and friends. We observe younger children to assess their development and language skills. Children will receive a gift certificate for participating. Children ages 11 or older receive $20; children 10 and under receive $10.

We realize you are busy. Our local interviewer will contact you to discuss the consent process for the child interview. They will schedule this at a time that is convenient for you.

The child’s involvement in the study rests on you. We hope you will allow the child to participate. Each child taking part in the study helps us learn about the child welfare system from a child’s point of view. The information the child provides will be held private to the extent permitted by law. The research team is not connected to the child welfare agency. Reports released by RTI will not identify a single person or family. The child’s involvement does not affect any benefits or services they may receive.

The enclosed fact sheet provides more information about the study. Our interviewer will try to reach you by telephone. If they are unable to reach you by telephone, they will come in person to explain the study. They will answer any questions you have at that time. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below.

The success of this study depends on those selected to take part. I thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Participation in the described collection of information is voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB number for this information collection is 0970-0202 and the expiration date is XX/XX/XXXX.

Legal Guardian Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

We designed the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to collect data directly from children and families involved in the child welfare system. We also collect information from case workers and child welfare agency records. Researchers use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Who conducts this study?

The Administration for Children and Families, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sponsors this study. ACF hired a team of researchers from RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University to conduct the study. The research team is not connected with the child welfare agency.

Who is RTI International?

RTI International (RTI) is a research company located in North Carolina. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies.

How was the child chosen?

Shape4 In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12 month period of time.

We must have permission from a parent or legal guardian before we observe or talk with the child. At that point, the child may choose whether or not to participate in the study. We want to interview the child about his or her experiences with the child welfare system, school, friends, and his or her family. The child will receive a gift certificate for participating in this round of interviews. Children ages 11 and older receive $20 and children 10 and under receive $10. The child’s caregiver receives $50 for taking part in this round of interviews.

What is the child’s involvement?

The child’s involvement varies depending on his or her age. We observe young children to assess their development and language skills. The interviewer will talk with older children about their development, family experiences, school, and friends. The interviewer will ask your permission to observe or talk with the sampled child.

How will you conduct the study?

Shape5 Our local interviewer will make a personal visit to interview the child’s primary caregiver, usually the child’s mother, foster mother, grandmother, stepmother, or father. The interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer.

We will ask your permission to use in our research any information outside of the interview that we may obtain about the child.

How long will it take?

The length of the interview varies by the age of the child and his or her family experiences. The interview lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for the child and the family.

Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. We keep all answers private to the extent permitted by law. No one else (even other household members) will know what was said during the interview. Respondents do not have to answer any question they do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

The interviewer enters the information into a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI by the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine answers with other interviews and report in a summary form. We do not link the child’s name with the information they provide. We keep names and other identifying information separate from the child’s answers. RTI may telephone the child’s caregiver or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

How will child welfare agency personnel be contacted?

We ask the child’s caseworker about the child welfare services provided to the child and his or her family. We also ask the caseworker to refer to the child’s service record to assist them in our answering questions.

What about Privacy?

To protect the privacy of the child, neither the child nor the caregivers will know the other’s answers to the interview questions. Answers obtained during all NSCAW surveys will be combined with those from thousands of others from around the country. We report the results in percentages, averages and other statistics. We hold all information collected for this study private to the extent permitted by law. All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement promising they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. In addition, RTI obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects.

Two important exceptions to note. (1) If the interviewer or project staff think the child’s life or health is in danger, they will tell the appropriate authorities. (2) At some point in the future, a different research company may take over the study. If that happens, with your consent, we would give contacting information for the child to the other company.

In addition to getting your signed consent, the interviewer will ask for the caregiver’s permission before approaching the child for an interview. At that point, the child may choose whether or not to participate in the study.

Where do I get more information about the study?

Shape6 If you have other questions, you may call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have any questions about your rights, or that of the child as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Caregiver of Emancipated Youth Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[CAREGIVER OF EMANCIPATED YOUTH NAME] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Parent,

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides funding for activities related to the interests of children and families. ACF has hired RTI International (RTI) to conduct the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). We randomly selected 4,500 children to join this study. [NAME OF CHILD] was selected to take part in this effort and gave us permission to contact you. Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. RTI has partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct this national study. We will use the results from the study to make improvements to the child welfare system.

We realize you are busy, taking care of a family, working outside the home, or going to school — perhaps all three. The interviewer in your area will contact you to schedule your interview whenever it is convenient for you.

Your decision to take part in this study is up to you. We hope you will contribute to this important effort. We will keep the information you provide private to the extent permitted by law. The research team is in no way connected to the child welfare agency. Reports released by RTI will not identify a single person or family. Your involvement will not affect any benefits or services you or your child receive.

The enclosed fact sheet describes the study in more detail. Our interviewer will try to reach you by telephone to schedule the interview. If the interviewer cannot reach you by telephone, they will come in person to explain the survey. They will answer any questions you have at that time. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. I thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Caregiver of Emancipated Youth Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

We invite you to participate in an important study called the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about the survey.

The NSCAW is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. As a part of this study, we will examine different reasons families come into contact with the system and different ways agencies handle situations like yours.

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from children and their parents or guardians. We will also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use the information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Why should I participate?

By taking part in this study, you have a chance to have your voice heard, to talk about your child’s needs from your own point of view, and help other families in similar situations.

Who conducts this study?

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors the study. ACF hired a team of researchers from RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study. The research team is not connected with the child welfare agency.

Who is RTI International?

RTI International (RTI) is a research company located in North Carolina. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies. Our local interviewers will schedule and conduct interviews with children, families, and caseworkers.

How was I chosen?

In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12-month period. We selected a child currently or very recently in your care to join the study along with 4,500 other children across the nation. This child gave us permission to contact you. You will receive [INCENTIVE AMOUNT] to thank you for participating.

What does my involvement require?

We ask questions about your child’s development, including his or her learning, behavior, health, and friendships. We also ask about your family’s situation and any services your family may receive.

We may contact you in the future to update our information.

Shape7 How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries approval letters from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and RTI.

How long will it take?

The caregiver interview lasts about 100 minutes. We will schedule the interviews at a time convenient for you.

Shape8 Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. We keep your answers private to the extent permitted by law. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

We collect your responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI by the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report in a summary form. We do not link your name or your child’s name to the information you provide. We keep your names and other identifiers separate from your answers. We only use your name and address to contact you in the future for another interview. We may telephone you or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

What will you ask child welfare agency personnel?

We ask the caseworker about the kinds of child welfare services provided to you and your family. We also ask the caseworker to refer to your child’s service records when answering our questions.

What about Privacy?

All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement pledging they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

Three important exceptions to note. (1) If the interviewer or project staff think your child’s life or health is in danger, they will tell the appropriate authorities. (2) Also, if they feel your life or health is in serious danger, they will contact someone qualified to assist you. (3) At some point in the future this research may be done by another research group. If that happens, with your consent, we would give contacting information for you to the other group.

To protect your privacy and that of your child, neither of you will know the other’s answers to the interview questions. We combine your answers with responses from thousands of others from around the country. We report results only in percentages, averages and other statistics.

Where do I get more information about the study?

Shape9 If you have other questions, please call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Emancipated Youth and Young Adult Lead Letters and Fact Sheets

Emancipated Youth Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[EMANCIPATED YOUTH] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear [NAME OF CHILD]

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides funding for activities related to the interests of children and families. ACF has hired RTI International (RTI) to conduct the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). We selected you to take part in this study along with thousands of others. Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. RTI has partnered with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct this national study. We will use the results from the study to make improvements to the child welfare system.

By taking part in the survey, you will have the chance to talk about your experiences with the child welfare system. The interview focuses on your health, employment, relationships, and use of services. Your input will help us better understand the issues facing youth like yourself. We will use the results to make improvements to the child welfare system. You will receive $50 to thank you for participating.

We realize you are busy, going to school, working outside the home, or helping to take care of a family — perhaps all three. Our local interviewer will contact you to schedule a time for the interview that suits your schedule.

Your decision to take part in this study is up to you. We hope you will contribute to this important effort. We will keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. Neither this project nor the local interviewer who will contact you is connected with the child welfare agency. Reports released by RTI will not identify a single person or family. Your involvement does not affect any benefits or services you receive.

The enclosed fact sheet contains more information about the study. Our interviewer will try to reach you by telephone to schedule the interview. If we cannot reach you by telephone, the interviewer will come to explain the survey in person. They will answer any questions you have at that time. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Emancipated Youth Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

Shape10 The NSCAW is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from children and their parents or guardians. We will also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Why should I participate?

Shape11 By taking part in this survey, you have a chance to have your voice heard and to talk about your needs and experiences from your own point of view. You will receive $50 to thank you for participating in the interview.

Who is doing this study?

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors the study. ACF hired a team of researchers from RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study. None of the researchers hired by ACF are connected with the child welfare agency.

Who is RTI International?

RTI is a research company located in North Carolina. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of clients including government agencies and private companies. Our local interviewers will contact and schedule interviews with children, families, and caseworkers.

How was I chosen?

Shape12 In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children at random who have come into contact with the child welfare system during the past 12 months. We want to interview you about your life experiences, health, behaviors, and transition to adulthood.

Tell me more about my involvement.

An RTI interviewer will ask you questions about your life experiences. The questions will focus on your health, employment, relationships, social support system, behaviors, and use of services. The interviewer will also ask about the community in which you live, and about things that may happen in your life like violence in the home, involvement with the police and risky behaviors such as sexual activity and drug use.

How is the study conducted?

Shape13 Our local interviewer will contact you to schedule a personal visit to your home (or other location) to interview you. The interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer.

Upon completion of the interview, we will ask for your okay to keep and use in our research any information we may collect in talking to your caseworker. If you currently live with or have lived with a parent, grandparent, or other adult who took care of you in the last three months, we will request your permission to speak with that person.

Shape14 How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries approval letters from ACF and RTI.

How long will it take?

The interview lasts between 60 and 90 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for you.

Shape15 Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. We keep your information private; no one else (even other household members) will know what you said during the interview. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

We collect your survey responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI through the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report in a summary form. We do not link your name or your child’s name to the information you provide. We keep your name and other identifiers separate from your answers. We only use your name and other identifying information to locate you. RTI may also telephone you or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

How will you contact child welfare personnel and caregivers?

We will ask your caseworker about the child welfare services provided to you and your family. We will ask your caseworker to refer to your service records when answering our questions.

If you live with or have lived with a parent, grandparent, or other adult who took care of you in the last three months, we ask for your okay to speak with that person. We will ask this person questions about services your family receives, family relationships and support, life experiences, and involvement with school and community activities. We will also ask them about your learning, behavior, health, and friendships.

What about privacy?

All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement promising they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. We have a paper from the government that promises that we do not have to give your information to anyone. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

Three important exceptions to note. (1) If the interviewer or project staff think that your life or health is in serious danger, they will contact someone qualified to assist you. (2) Also, if you have a child whose life or health may be in serious danger, we will contact someone qualified to assist them. (3) At some point in the future, a different research company may take over this study. If that happens, with your consent, we would give contacting information for you to the other company.

We will ask for your permission before we contact your caregiver. To protect privacy, we combine your answers with the answers from thousands of others taking part in the study. We report our results in percentages, averages and other statistics.

Where do I get more information about the study?

Shape16 If you have other questions, please call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Young Adult Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[YOUNG ADULT] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear [NAME OF YOUNG ADULT]

The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) just launched the next round of interviews with participating young adults. We selected you along with 4,500 other children at random to take part in this study. We interviewed you in 2017 or 2018 as a part of our first round of interviews. We greatly appreciate your prior input.

NSCAW is the first ever nationwide survey of children and families who have had contact with the child welfare system. The study is sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. By taking part in the survey, you will have a chance to talk about your life experiences and transition to adulthood. This will help us better understand the issues that affect young adults like you. We will use the results of the study to make improvements to the child welfare system and services available. You will receive $50 to thank you for participating in this round of interviews.

We realize you are busy, going to school, working outside the home, or helping to take care of a family — perhaps all three. Our interviewer will contact you to schedule a time for the interview that is convenient for you.

Your decision to take part in the study is up to you. We hope you will contribute to this important effort. We will keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. Neither this project nor the local interviewer who will contact you is connected with the child welfare agency. Reports released by ACF will not identify a single person or family. Your involvement will not affect any benefits or services you receive.

The enclosed fact sheet provides more information about the study. Our interviewer will try to reach you by telephone to schedule the interview. If we cannot reach you by telephone, the interviewer will come to explain the survey in person. They will answer any questions you have at that time. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Young Adult Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

What is the National Survey on Child and Adolescent Well-Being?

Shape17 The NSCAW is the first ever nationwide longitudinal study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from children and their parents or guardians. We will also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Why should I participate?

Shape18 You took part in an earlier round of interviews about a year and a half ago. At that time, we may have also interviewed your parent or guardian. We would like to talk with you again to find out how things may have changed. By taking part, you have a chance to have your voice heard and to talk about your needs and experiences from your own point of view. You will receive $50 to thank you for participating in this round of interviews.

Who is doing this study?

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors this study. ACF hired a team of researchers at RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study. None of the researchers hired by ACF are connected with the child welfare agency.

Who is RTI International?

RTI is a research organization located in North Carolina. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies. Our local interviewers will contact and schedule interviews with children, families, and caseworkers.

How was I chosen?

Shape19 In doing this survey, we cannot talk to everyone in the country. That would cost too much and take too long. We selected a sample of children and adolescents at random who had contact with the child welfare system in 2017 or 2018. We want to interview you about your life experiences, health, behaviors, and transition to adulthood.

How will I be involved?

An RTI interviewer will ask you questions about your life experiences. The questions will focus on your health, employment, relationships, social support system, behaviors, and use of services. The interviewer will also ask you about the community in which you live, and about things that may happen in your life like violence in the home, drug abuse, and other risky behaviors such as drinking, sexual activity, and involvement with the police.

How is the study being conducted?

Shape20 Our local interviewer will contact you to schedule a personal visit to your home (or other location) to interview you. The interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer.

Upon completion of the interview, we will request permission to keep and use in our research any information we may obtain from child welfare agency records. If you have received services since the last interview, we may also interview your caseworker.

Shape21 How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries letters of authorization from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and RTI.

How long will it take?

The interview lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for you.

Shape22 Are the questions personal?

Some questions may seem personal to some people. We keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. You do not have to answer any question that you do not want to answer.

What happens to the information?

We collect your survey responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI through the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report in a summary form. We do not link your name to the information you provide. We keep your name and other identifiers separate from your answers. We only use your name and other identifying information to locate you. RTI may also telephone you or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

How will child welfare personnel be contacted?

We ask the caseworker questions about the child welfare services provided to you and your family. We also ask the caseworker to refer to your service records when answering our questions.

What about privacy?

All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement promising they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

Two important exceptions to note. (1) If the interviewer or project staff think your life or health is in serious danger, they will contact someone qualified to assist you. (2) At some point in the future this research may be done by another research group. If that happens, with your consent, we would give contacting information for you to the other group.

Where do I get more information about the study?

Shape23 If you have other questions, please call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Caseworker Lead Letters and Fact Sheets

Baseline Caseworker Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[CASEWORKER NAME] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Caseworker,

This study will provide policy-makers and practitioners with information about the service needs of children and families who enter the child welfare system, the kinds of services provided to them, and outcomes for children and families who enter the system. We will use the results to make improvements to child welfare policy and practice.

Your agency agreed to help us with this monumental study. During the next 12 months, we will select a small number of children from your agency each month for inclusion in the study. If you were the investigative caseworker or foster care caseworker for one of the selected children, the professional RTI interviewer assigned to your agency will contact you to schedule a convenient time to talk with you about the child and family. We ask that you provide information about the investigation/assessment that led to the report or other situations that led the child to enter state custody. We are also interested in learning more about the child’s family and other factors that contributed to your recommendation for the family. In addition, we ask questions about your work and background.

The interview takes 45 minutes to complete. A local interviewer will contact you to schedule your interview. Please ask to see her/his ID card; we included an example of the ID card below. We understand the heavy demands on your time. The interviewer will work with you to schedule the interview at a convenient time.

The enclosed fact sheet describes the study in more detail. We will use the information you share for research purposes only. We will keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. Reports released by RTI will not identify a single person or family.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Baseline (Investigative or Foster Care) Caseworker Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

We invite you to take part in an important study called the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions asked about the survey.

What is the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW)?

Shape24 The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from selected children and their parents or guardians. We also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Who sponsors and conducts this study?

Who is RTI International (RTI)?

Shape25 RTI is a private, research company located in North Carolina. RTI was founded in 1958 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies.

How were children chosen to participate?

Most surveys involve drawing a scientific sample from the population of interest and then concentrating the study on this relatively small sample. We use this approach for the NSCAW. First, we selected a random sample of over 80 child welfare agencies from the entire U.S. Within each of these agencies, we selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12-month period. This will result in a group of about 4,500 children for the study. They will represent children in child welfare agencies across the entire U.S.

What is the NSCAW Caseworker Survey?

During the next 12 months, we will select children from your agency for inclusion in this study. We may ask you to complete interviews for more than one child during the year. The interviewer will work with you to find a convenient time to do the interview.

If you completed an investigation or assessment on any selected case, we ask that you complete an interview with us so we can obtain some basic information about the circumstances surrounding the report and the investigation/assessment. We also want to interview foster care caseworkers providing supervision and services for children who entered state custody through pathways other than an investigation. The interview collects information about the characteristics of the family and factors that contributed to your recommendation.

We complete interviews with caseworkers after we finish interviews with the selected child and their current caregiver. When we contact the family, we seek permission from the child’s parent or legal guardian to keep and use these data in our research. If they deny this request, we retain only a small portion of the data for purposes of calculating weights for participants’ data, to statistically adjust for those who choose not to participate.

How are children involved in NSCAW?

The child’s involvement will vary depending on his or her age. We observe young children to assess their development and language skills. The interviewer will talk with older children about their development, family experiences, school, and friends. The interviewer will obtain permission from the child’s legal guardian before observing or talking with him or her.

How are parents/guardians involved in NSCAW?

We ask parents or caregivers of selected children to answer questions about the child’s development, including his or her learning, behavior, health, and friendships. We also ask about the services the family receives and their family environment. Additional questions focus on their attitudes about raising children, family support, involvement with school and community activities, and their interaction with the selected child.

How was my name associated with this case?

Shape26 Our local interviewer working this case obtained your name from either the child’s current caregiver/legal guardian, who has agreed to participate in the study, or from the participating local agency. As the investigative or foster care caseworker for the sampled child’s case, you were named as the person most knowledgeable about the child.

How is the survey conducted?

Our local interviewer will contact you in advance to schedule a convenient time to complete the interview. In conducting the interview, the interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer. You may need to refer to your records to answer some questions.

How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

Shape27 The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries letters of authorization from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and RTI.

How long will the interview take?

Shape28 The interview lasts about 45 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for you.

Will the selected child or his/her guardian know my answers?

Shape29 No. We keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. The selected child, his/her guardian, and agency staff will not know any of your responses to the interview questions. We use the information we collect for research purposes only. We keep your name and other identifying information separate from your survey responses.

What happens to the information?

Shape30 We collect your responses to the survey using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI through the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report our findings in a summary form. We keep your name and other identifiers separate from your answers. We only use your name and other identifying information to contact you to schedule the interviews. RTI may also telephone you or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

What about privacy?

Shape31 All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement pledging that they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

The selected child and his/her guardian, and other agency staff will not know any of your responses to the interview questions. You do not have to answer any question you do not want to answer and you can stop the interview at any time.

We keep information provided by all study participants, including caregivers and children, to the extent permitted by law. We combine answers obtained from all NSCAW interviews with those from thousands of others from around the country. We report the results only in percentages, averages and other statistics so no single participant can be identified.

Where do I get more information?

If you have other questions, please call toll-free: Jennifer Keeney at RTI, 1-800-334-8571, extension 23525. If you have questions about your rights as a study participant, call toll-free: RTI’s Office of Human Research Protections at 1-866-214-2043.

Follow-up (Services) Caseworker Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[CASEWORKER NAME] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Caseworker,

The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) just launched the next round of interviews with selected children and families. If you took part in one of our earlier rounds of interviews, thank you for your participation. If this is the first time you have been contacted about the NSCAW, the study may be new to you. NSCAW is a nationally representative, longitudinal study of children and families who have had contact with the child welfare system. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) sponsors the study. ACF hired a team of researchers from RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis to conduct the study.

We selected over 4,500 children and families involved in the child welfare system to take part in the study. We contacted you because at least one of the families you work with or worked with in the recent past took part in our first round of interviews. As the primary caseworker for one of these families, we would like to interview you to learn more about the services provided to or needed by the family and update the information we collected in our first round of interviews.

Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. This study provides policy makers and practitioners with information about the service needs of children and families, the kinds of services provided to them, and outcomes for children and families who enter the system. We will use the results to improve child welfare policy and practice.

Your input will help us better understand the issues that face children and families in the child welfare system and how the system serves children of different ages and with different needs. We recognize some families receive extensive services, while others receive few or no services. To obtain a complete picture of the service system, we want to talk with caseworkers regardless of the amount or type of services provided or paid for by the agency.

The interview takes 60 minutes to complete. A local interviewer will contact you to schedule your interview. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below. We understand the heavy demands on your time. The interviewer will work with you to schedule the interview at a convenient time.

The enclosed fact sheet provides more detail about the study. We will use the information you share for research purposes only. We will keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. Reports released by ACF will not identify a single person or family.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: ___________________________________

Follow-up (Services) Caseworker Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

Your agency agreed to take part in an important study called the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. This fact sheet provides answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the study.

What is the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW)?

Shape32 The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from selected children and their parents or guardians. We also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Who sponsors and conducts this study?

Who is RTI International (RTI)?

Shape33 RTI is a private, research company located in North Carolina. RTI was founded in 1958 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies.

How were children chosen to participate?

Most surveys involve drawing a scientific sample from the population of interest and then concentrating the study on this relatively small sample. We used this approach on the NSCAW. We selected a random sample of about 80 county child welfare agencies from the entire U.S. Within each of these agencies, we selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12-month period of time. This resulted in a group of about 4,500 children who took part in the study. They represent children in child welfare agencies across the entire U.S.

What is the NSCAW Caseworker Survey?

During the reference period, we selected children from your agency for inclusion in this study. We contact sampled children and their caregivers 18 months after the baseline interview to understand changes over time. We identified you as the primary caseworker or service provider for one of the children taking part in the study. The caseworker survey focuses on the child’s history in the child welfare system and the services he/she receives. To assist you with answering our questions, we ask that you refer to the child’s service record.

We complete interviews with caseworkers after we finish interviews with the selected child and their current caregiver. We may ask you to complete interviews for more than one child for this second round of interviews. We will work with you to find a convenient time to do the interview(s).

How are children involved in NSCAW?

The child’s involvement varies depending on his or her age. We observe young children to assess their development and language skills. The interviewer talks with older children about their development, family experiences, school, and friends. The interviewer obtains permission from the child’s legal guardian before observing or talking with him or her.

How are parents/guardians involved in NSCAW?

We ask parents or caregivers of selected children to answer questions about the child’s development, including his or her learning, behavior, health, and friendships. We also ask them about the services the family receives and their family environment. Additional questions focus on their attitudes about raising children, family support, involvement with school and community activities, and their interaction with the selected child.

How was my name associated with this case?

Shape34 Our local interviewer working this case obtained your name from either the child’s current caregiver/legal guardian, who has agreed to participate in the study, or from the study liaison in local agency taking part in the study. As the primary caseworker or service provider for the sampled child’s case, we identified you as the person most familiar with the services the sampled child and family may have received. .

How is the survey conducted?

Our local interviewer will contact you to schedule a convenient time to complete the interview. In conducting the interview, the interviewer will read the questions off of a computer screen and type the answers into the computer. You may need to refer to your records to answer some questions.

How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

Shape35 The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer also carries letters of authorization from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and RTI.

How long will the interview take?

Shape36 The services caseworker interview lasts 60 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for you.

Will the selected child or his/her guardian know my answers?

Shape37 No. We keep your information private to the extent permitted by law. The selected child, his/her guardian, and agency staff will not know any of your responses to the interview questions. We use the information we collect for research purposes only. We keep your name and other identifying information separate from your survey responses.

What happens to the information?

Shape38 We collect your survey responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI through the computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report our findings in a summary form. We keep your name and other identifying information separate from your answers. We only use your name and other identifying information to contact you to schedule the interview. RTI may also telephone participants or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

What about privacy?

Shape39 All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement promising that they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

We keep information provided by all study participants, including caregivers and children, private to the extent permitted by law. We combine answers obtained from all NSCAW interviews with those from thousands of others from around the country. We report the results only in percentages, averages and other statistics.

Where do I get more information?

New Agency (Services) Caseworker Lead Letter

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

RTI International  PO Box 12194  Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709l  USA

Sponsored by: Administration for Children and Families

Conducted by: RTI International  The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill  Washington University in St. Louis

[NEW AGENCY CASEWORKER NAME] [Date]

[Address]

[Address #2]

[City, State, Zip]

Dear Caseworker,

The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) just launched the second round of interviews with selected children and families. The NSCAW is a nationally representative, longitudinal study of children and families who have had contact with the child welfare system. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, sponsors the study. ACF hired a team of researchers at RTI International (RTI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Washington University in St. Louis, to conduct the study.

In the first round, RTI worked with a child welfare agency in your area to sample families who had come into contact with the child welfare system. RTI conducted interviews or assessments with sampled children and interviewed their caregiver and investigative caseworker. For this second round, we would like to contact selected families again and their current caseworkers to learn about their continuing experiences with the child welfare system and the types of services they may receive over time.

We selected over 4,500 children and families involved in the child welfare system to take part in the study. We contacted you because at least one of these families receives services through your agency. As the primary caseworker or service provider for the child, we want to interview you to learn more about the services provided to or needed by the child and his/her family. We also want to update the information we collected in our first round of interviews.

Our country relies on this source of information to understand the children and families served by the child welfare system. This study provides policy makers and practitioners with information about the service needs of children and families the kinds of services provided to them, and outcomes for children and families who enter the system. We will use the results to improve child welfare policy and practice.

Your input will help us better understand the issues children and families face in the child welfare system and how the system serves children of different ages and with different needs. We recognize some families receive extensive services, while others receive few or no services. To obtain a complete picture of the service system, we want to talk with caseworkers regardless of the amount or type of services provided or paid for by the agency.

The interview takes 45 minutes to complete. A local interviewer will contact you to schedule your interview. Please ask to see their ID card; we included an example of the ID card below. We understand the heavy demands on your time. The interviewer will work with you to schedule the interview at a convenient time.

The enclosed fact sheet provides more detail about the study. We will use the information you share for research purposes only. We will keep your information private as required by law. Reports released by ACF will not identify a single person or family.

The success of the study depends on those selected to take part. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely yours,

Christine Fortunato, Ph.D., Project Officer

Administration for Children and Families

Name of Interviewer Who Will Contact You: _________________________________

New Agency (Services) Caseworker Fact Sheet

Questions and Answers about the

National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being

What is the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW)?

Shape40 The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) is the first ever nationwide study of children and families who have come into contact with the child welfare system. We designed the NSCAW to collect data directly from selected children and their parents or guardians. We also collect information from caseworkers and agency records. We use this information to learn about the needs of children and families, about the kinds of services used by children and families, and about other services provided by child welfare agencies.

Who is doing this study?

Who is RTI International (RTI)?

Shape41 RTI is a private, research company located in North Carolina. RTI was founded in 1958 by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University in Durham and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. RTI conducts research projects for a wide variety of government agencies, universities, and private companies.

How were children chosen to participate?

Most surveys involve drawing a scientific sample from the population of interest and then concentrating the study on this relatively small sample. We used this approach for the NSCAW. We selected a random sample of about 80 county child welfare agencies from the entire U.S. Within each of these agencies, we selected a sample of children at random who came into contact with the child welfare system during a 12-month period of time. This resulted in a group of about 4,500 children who took part in the study. They represent children in child welfare agencies across the entire U.S.

What is the NSCAW Caseworker Survey?

The target population for this study includes children who were subjects of child abuse and neglect investigations (assessments) conducted by CPS or children during a 12-month period. We also included children who entered the system through a pathway other than an investigation. During this period, we selected children from a child welfare agency in your area for inclusion in this study. We asked at least one caseworker from that agency to complete an initial interview that focused either on the investigation or other situation that led to the family’s inclusion in the study.

We contact sampled children and their caregivers 18 months after the baseline interviews to understand changes over time. We identified you as the primary caseworker or service provider for one of our participating children. The caseworker survey focuses on the child’s history in the child welfare system and the services he/she receives. In answering these questions, it may be necessary for you to refer to the child’s service records.

We complete interviews with caseworkers after we finish interviews with the selected child and their current caregiver. We may ask you to complete interviews for more than one child for this round of interviews. We will work with you to find a convenient time to do the interview(s).

How are children involved in NSCAW?

How are parents/guardians involved in NSCAW?

How was my name associated with this case?

Shape42 Our local interviewer working this case obtained your name from either the child’s current caregiver, who has agreed to participate in the study, or from the local agency taking part in the study. As the primary caseworker or service provider for the sampled child’s case, we identified you as the person most familiar with the services the sampled child and family may have received.

Does the local child welfare agency approve of NSCAW?

Yes. In 2016-2017, a child welfare agency in your area signed a Letter of Agreement with RTI. The letter outlined the NSCAW project team’s responsibilities with respect to issues such as data collection and the protection of data. The letter also outlined the agency’s responsibilities with respect to issues such as provision of data for sampling purposes, provision of current caregiver contact information, and support of caseworker participation in the study.

How is the survey conducted?

How will I recognize the RTI interviewer?

Shape43 The interviewer carries an ID badge with his or her picture on it. The interviewer will carries letters of authorization from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and RTI.

How long will the interview take?

Shape44 The services caseworker interview lasts 45 minutes. We will schedule the interview at a time convenient for you.

Will the selected child or his/her guardian know my answers?

Shape45 No. We keep your information private. The selected child, his/her guardian, and agency staff will not know any of your responses to the interview questions. We use the information we collect for research purposes only. We keep your name and other identifying information separate from your survey responses. Similarly, we cannot provide you with any information from either the child’s or caregiver’s interview.

What happens to the information?

Shape46 We collect your survey responses using a secure computer. We send the collected information to RTI through a computer in a safe and secure way. We combine your answers with other interviews and report our findings in a summary form. We keep your name and other identifying information separate from your answers. We only use your name other identifying information to contact you to schedule the interview. RTI may also telephone participants or send a letter to check on the quality of the interviewer’s work.

What about privacy?

Shape47 All RTI staff members and interviewers have signed a Privacy Agreement promising they will not reveal any information to anyone other than authorized project staff. RTI also obtained a federal Certificate of Confidentiality for this study to protect the identity of the research subjects. We keep all information private to the extent permitted by law and we never identify a single person or family in our reports.

Where do I get more information?

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Author	Keeney, Jennifer
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2021-01-15