New Data Requirements
Collecting family-related outcomes requires new data for most WDBs.
Maricopa leveraged measurements that were already tracked by Head Start and Early Head Start (such as attendance and school readiness assessments) as a good starting point. It also made data collection easier. Other federal programs and most of the child care partners gather metrics that can be utilized as well
Work With Partners
Work with your stakeholders/partners to identify the data they collect and which they report to show their successes or struggles. Set the goals with their input. When there is a need to collect more information to enable FCE reporting, make sure they understand why that data is important
and how it helps the job seeker/family be successful. Include reporting requirements in any agreements that are signed. This effectively enables the sharing of data, resources, funding, and services
Get Support for Delayed Outcomes
Since FCE practices enable a WDB to more effectively serve those with greater barriers, it improves overall employment results. However, if a WDB is serving a higher percentage of those with the greatest barriers, some measures of success, such as time prior to exit, may appear to be negatively impacted for a time. Understanding how to message and get support for these outcomes is important for those that experience them
Data Balance
There is a large amount of data that can be collected, but there must be a balance between the importance of the data and the time spent to collect/report it. Each pilot site found easy pathways to collect some of the data and some of the data was very hard to obtain.
We recognize this and believe we can all work together to enhance the data that is available and how we collect it. Don’t feel like you need to capture all of the data if it is too time consuming, particularly at the beginning of the project.
This is particularly true if you find that you can capture a sample size of data relatively easily, but it is very difficult to capture it for all job seekers/families.