Informing child welfare policy and practice: using knowledge discovery and data mining technology via a dynamic Web site.
Proper management and implementation of an effective child welfare agency requires the constant use of information about the experiences and outcomes of children involved in the system, emphasizing the need for comprehensive, timely, and accurate data. In the past 20 years, there have been many advances in technology that can maximize the potential of administrative data to promote better evaluation and management in the field of child welfare. Specifically, this article discusses the use of knowledge discovery and data mining (KDD), which makes it possible to create longitudinal data files from administrative data sources, extract valuable knowledge, and make the information available via a user-friendly public Web site. This article demonstrates a successful project in North Carolina where knowledge discovery and data mining technology was used to develop a comprehensive set of child welfare outcomes available through a public Web site to facilitate information sharing of child welfare data to improve policy and practice.
Duncan
Dean F
DF
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550, USA.
Kum
Hye-Chung
HC
Weigensberg
Elizabeth Caplick
EC
Flair
Kimberly A
KA
Stewart
C Joy
CJ
D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D003625:Data Collection; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D009657:North Carolina; D011640:Public Policy; D013672:Technology