Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Initiative Indicators

Introduction:

The Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Initiative Program Indicators were created to address the building reality of outcomes and accountability for programs and services. The overarching purpose of this set of indicators is to systematically collect data from the entirety of grantees, and aggregate this data to inform the system as a whole. The Indicators are not designed to measure performance at the grantee level, rather to assure to stakeholders, including the State Legislature, that the Initiative is outcome-driven. Further, it will allow the Initiative to show that impacts are being made on the population served which warrant continued funding and support.

Traditionally, indicators for Zero to Three reporting were based on those established by the Zero to Five Advocacy Network of Michigan (ZFAN), an advocacy group working on behalf of service providers for infants and toddlers. These indicators, eight in total, were created for a larger service system, focusing on any home visitor services for families with children ages birth to five. The indicators created by the Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Steering Committee focus in on the ideas of ZFAN, and expand the number of indicators to cover the specificity of programs and services funded through Zero to Three. Therefore, these indicators are specific to the Initiative, intended for use by the Initiative, and weigh the accountability of the Initiative. In essence, they provide the framework for the system to respond to the requirements established by law.

The method through which the indicators were created focused on the history of data previously collected by grantees as well as an incorporation of new mandates and projects. In sum, the indicators created minimal new data points; rather, the indicators use and respond to the data already being collected by grantees through quarterly reporting requirements, state-wide evaluation efforts, grant agreements, and funding applications.

Percentage goals for meeting the indicators and outcomes were established through a process of informed research. Historical Initiative data was used to establish a base-line predicated on past performance. For goals concerning indicators for which data from the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory (AAPI-2) will be employed, a set of pilot data from over 2 years of AAPI-2 use was used to determine levels of success. Additionally, State of Michigan trend data, such as immunizations rate, were used to inform goals concerning such information.

The indicators were also crossed with those created by the larger early childhood system in Michigan, known as the Early Childhood Comprehensive System. This allows for the work being done by Zero to Three providers to be connected and inform the larger early childhood system. Finally, the indicators, in draft form, were sent to current Zero to Three Grantees for comments and feedback. The suggestions and remarks provided by the Grantees aided in shaping this final version of the system’s accountability.

In closing, it is important to remember that accountability and outcomes are at the forefront of the decision-making process. Programs need to have the capacity to report to stakeholders in a systematic and coherent way; it is through these indicators that the Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Initiative will be accountable. By holding the system responsible for outcomes, it is the vision that the Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Initiative will remain in the forefront of providing high quality, effective and important child abuse and neglect prevention services for Michigan’s families.

Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Program Indicators:

FY 2006 Program Indicators (.PDF Document)

Resource Documents:

Original Indicator Draft (.PDF Document)

Compiled Comments from Grantees on Original Draft (.PDF Document)

Zero to Three Secondary Prevention Steering Committee Responses to Grantee Comments (.PDF Document)