To read the multisite report of the Center for Court Innovation's evaluation of the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program, click here.
The following are the site-specific reports in the evaluation:
Building a Safer Tomorrow: A Process Evaluation of Grand Forks County Defending Childhood Initiative
Tackling Urban Inequalities: A Process Evaluation of the Boston Defending Childhood Initiative
Through the NOVA Door: A Process Evaluation of Shelby County’s Defending Childhood Initiative
The National Institute of Justice funded the Center for Court Innovation to evaluate the Defending Childhood Demonstration Program. The evaluation produced a series of reports on six of the program demonstration sites, as well as a cross-site report that synthesizes implementation strategies, lessons learned, and recommendations. This outcome evaluation presents the results of three distinct research strategies to assess the impact of local sites' community awareness campaigns, trainings offered to professionals, and treatment and prevention strategies related to children's exposure to violence. Results of the community survey point to potential positive impacts, including increased community understanding of what actions are considered violence at the non-tribal sites, and increased community awareness of the Defending Childhood Initiative and available services at the tribal sites. Results of the professional practices survey indicate that after attending a Defending Childhood-sponsored training, professionals’ knowledge about children’s exposure to violence, evidence-based practices, and vicarious trauma and self-care increased. Additionally, agencies reported incorporating more trauma-informed practices to treat children who have been exposed to violence. There were no changes in indicators for exposure to violence at school, home, and in the community before and after the implementation of the Defending Childhood Initiative.