Meeting the Grand Challenge of Big Data in Child Welfare Program and Policy Research

Child maltreatment and child welfare research has benefited from abroad array of research approaches (e.g. qualitative, survey, administrative data, intervention).  In the past decade, the use of “big data” has become an increasingly important part of longitudinal child maltreatment and child welfare research.  Unfortunately, little training is available on established approaches which are being used or innovative applications that deserve further development.  Appropriate and broad application of big data holds promise as one of the most efficient and effective means of bridging the gap between social work research and evidence-based policy formulation.

This workshop is designed to engage both researchers who may be new to this data as well as established big data users who are interested in discussing cutting edge issues related to this methodology.  Questions discussed will include:

• How are communities, agencies and researchers currently using big data to understand their processes and outcomes?
• When and how should data outside child protection or child welfare services be used to allow a cross-sector approach, provide needed statistical controls, or allow for triangulation?
• How do we balance ethical concerns regarding confidentiality with ethical concerns about accountability?
• How does one assess the level of policy (city, county, state, national) most appropriate to findings derived from a given data source?
• What is the role of administrative data in implementation science work? 
• What innovative big data approaches are emerging (e.g., public health surveillance of maltreatment potential, virtual comparison groups)
• What role do researchers have in advocating for change in existing data systems and structures:  The case of child well-being.

This workshop will address in depth methodological issues related to sampling, context and application.  Key research designs using big data will be briefly overviewed a (e.g. the Child Neglect: Cross-Sector Services and Outcomes study) as well as new policies reliant upon the integration and use of big data (e.g. Birth Match).  The five presenters will review key themes through direct examples drawn from their own work and the work of other leaders in the use of big data in child welfare. There will be a particular emphasis on practical issues, including key aspects obtaining access to, managing and analyzing big data, as well as how to “keep it real” and assure that big data are used in such a way as to optimize utility to practitioners and policy makers.

Together the presenters have more than 50 years of experience with the use of administrative data using various research designs and with varying populations of interest to inform program and policy at local, state and national levels.  The format of the workshop will include a 45-minute general orientation to the issues described above, followed by a 45 minute interactive session.  During the second portion of the workshop, presenters will take questions from the audience and lead a discussion tailored to meet the needs and interests of participants.