Data and Monitoring Tools

Monitoring and research are essential processes in ensuring the relevance and effectiveness of programs, and the scope and type of service provision. They are integral components of analysis, strategic planning, and implementation for government and non-governmental organisations seeking to effect change, support or provide services.

Monitoring is an on-going process of gathering information e.g. statistics and tracking inputs and outputs, enabling the evaluation of what is working, and providing a mechanism for accountability. Combined with research, it facilitates the planning of improved resource allocation and service delivery. Research and monitoring can also help raise awareness of the gravity of a situation, both nationally and internationally. It should help convince those who are putting time, energy and money into supporting programmes that their efforts are worthwhile and should be continued.

Results of monitoring and evaluation should be fed directly back into programmes to correct weaknesses and improve performance. The outcomes of research and monitoring should also help improve child care policies. Results can be used to inform future programme design, prompting a decision to replicate an effective intervention in other areas or to discontinue an intervention because it is expensive and not making any beneficial changes.

The literature in this section provides statistical data on vulnerable children from a wide range of sources, as well as guidance and examples of data collection, indicators, analysis, and research methods regarding issues relating to vulnerable children.

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Foster Care and Schooling in West Africa: The State of Knowledge

Marc Pilon, 2003

Explores the relationship between fostering and education in West Africa. Identifies special need to focus on protecting and educating young girls.

A Toolkit for Evaluating Initiatives to Improve Child Care Quality

Toni Porter, Sally Mabon, Shannon Kearns, Anne Robertson, J. Lee Kreader, 2003

This paper provides guidelines and tools for policy makers to evaluate the quality of child care initiatives

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Forgotten Families: Older People as Carers of Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Amleset Tewodros, 2003

A brief policy report which highlights issues faced by older caregivers of orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. Outlines NGO responses, challenges and recommendations for programmatic support of older caregivers. Includes statistical data on ageing, HIV/AIDS and kinship care in Africa.

Mapping the number and characteristics of children under three in institutions across Europe at risk of harm

Professor Kevin Browne and Dr Catherine Hamilton-Giachritsis, 2003

This 15-month project aimed to map the number and characteristics of children under three placed in European institutions for more than three months without a parent as this information was previously unknown.

Africa's Orphaned Generations

UNICEF, 2003

Current statistics and projections of HIV prevalence and impact on children and families in Sub-Saharan Africa. Outlines a strategy for action which includes collaborative efforts on the part of governments and child-focused agencies to strengthen families, build community capacity and increase awareness.

Mobility Mapping and Flow Diagrams: Tools for Family Tracing and Social Reintegration Work with Separated Children

Brigette De Lay, IRC, 31 Dec 2002

Detailed guidance on using drawing with children to facilitate documentation and tracing efforts, as well as a tool for reintegrating separated children into families.

Child Needs Assessment Tool Kit

The Task Force fro Child Survival and Development , 24 Feb 2002

Comprehensive tool for undertaking household surveys in order to assess the needs of caregivers and young children in communities affected by HIV/AIDS. The pack includes detailed guidance on conducting the survey and analyzing the data.

Leave No Child Out Campaign

NGO/UNICEF Regional Network for Children (RNC), 2002

This paper examines the negative impact of institutional care in central eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltics region. It promotes community-based care alternatives and provides statistics. It also includes a list of useful resources addressing orphaned and vulnerable children.

Completing the Evaluation Triangle for the Next Century: Measuring Child “Well-Being” in Family Foster Care

James P. Gleeson, Altshuler Sandra J. - Family Foster Care in the Next Century, 30 Mar 2001

This article, a chapter in the book Family Foster Care in the Next Century, describes how child well-being has been conceptualized and measured in research on family foster care, and discusses the essential dimensions that should be included in a useful measure of child well-being.

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Children and Disability in the Context of Family Breakdown in Central and South Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union

Elayn Sammon, 2001

A study on children with disabilities in the context of family breakdown. Includes overviews and statistics from 10 countries, a call for strengthened family support services, and draft guidelines on how child agencies can better mainstream these issues into their work.