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In courtrooms in Hawaii and across the country, legal teams, juries and judges weigh the impact of not only individual pieces of evidence, but also their cumulative effect in rendering decisions and verdicts.

In the nonprofit world, evidence-based outcomes also play a crucial role in our collective ability to deliver services that have been researched to prove effectiveness, and thus make quality and financial sense.

Child & Family Service is one of our state’s largest nonprofits and what we are proudly calling “One Place. For All of Us.” With more than 35 programs across a continuum of care that ranges from early childhood and family services to kupuna care, we help to strengthen families by addressing serious issues such as abuse and neglect — with life-changing results.

Child & Family Service uses evidence-based models, or science that works, across the full range of our family-centered programs, including child, youth, domestic violence as well as gerontology program areas.

That can include nurturing parenting classes, learning independent living skills, counseling and emotional support, financial planning and caregiver support.

We employ practices that have been proven over time for effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery.

Coupled with our focus on trauma-informed care — in other words recognizing the impact of trauma on one’s life and working with individuals and families to effectively minimize its effects — our professional staff statewide work with families to provide the support they need to sustain the gains they have made over the long term.

A March 2014 study published in the journal Science demonstrates a growing body of scientific evidence that supports social services delivery.

In 1972 researchers in North Carolina started following two groups of babies from poor families: one group was given full-time care and support to age five, such as daily meals, talking, games and other stimulating activities, and the other group was not.

Forty-two years later, the researchers found that the group that got care was far healthier, with sharply lower rates of high blood pressure and obesity, and high levels of good cholesterol.

The study speaks to the impact of early intervention for children in leading to better health as adults, and also to the importance of evidence that a particular policy might lead to significant outcomes.

For years strong nonprofits were defined as those with low overhead; but late last year, the nation’s three charity watchdogs – Charity Navigator, Better Business Bureau Giving Alliance and Guidestar – reversed course, affirming that effectiveness should be measured in results.

These findings are consistent with the strategic direction of our organization. Child & Family Service is already nearly two years into an organization-wide initiative called Results Based Accountability that asks three questions: How much did we do? How well did we do it? And, is anyone better off?

Staff members have identified performance measures as well as strategies that work for each of our more than 35 programs. Already the initiative is yielding results. Our Ka Pa Ola residential home for young women is able to show a significant reduction in the number of incident reports for the girls in the program, which indicates that they are receiving the support they need in dealing with their emotions. Ka Pa Ola staff work with these girls to develop positive ways to respond to their feelings without causing harm to themselves and others.

The performance measurement data is enabling the organization to identify and track measurable changes within specific programs, as well as to build additional resources and programs to address family strengthening service delivery. These can include positive behavior support systems, interventions and prevention for abuse and neglect, and specific coping or parenting skills. It is a transformative, sustainable initiative with long-term impact.

About the author: Howard Garval is the president and CEO of Child & Family Service. He is chairman of the board of PHOCUSED (Protecting Hawaii’s Ohana, Children, Under-Served, Elderly and Disabled) and serves on the Oahu Workforce Investment Board and chairs the advisory board of the Hawaii Family Support Institute.

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