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DSS is proud to announce that we have been given funding by the federal government
to do a child care research and evaluation project. South Carolina was the only
state selected this year to receive the award, which we believe speaks to the uniqueness
and innovation of the planned project. The agency is partnering with the Office of Research and Statistics (Budget and Control Board),
Clemson University, and the
University of South Carolina on
what we are calling the Data Bridge Project.
Increasingly, child and program outcome data is requested by policymakers, researchers,
and the general public, and this information is not always available. Building a
data bridge - the capacity to collect and link DSS data with data systems of other
agencies - will help us:
- Become more efficient
- Write better program policies
- Improve how we plan and structure our services
- Respond to questions from the public
- Evaluate our programs
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Clemson University is helping to spearhead the project; both Clemson and the University
of South Carolina will assist in the research and evaluation. An important partner
in building this data bridge is the Office of Research and Statistics. With 40 public
and private statewide partnerships, state agency leadership, collaboration, and
technology, the Office has created a nationally recognized integrated human services
data system that helps state government make better decisions about South Carolina’s
citizens. The Office of Research and Statistics houses data that links people across
many services and numerous human services agencies, as well as to many private health
care providers.
Building this data bridge will allow DSS to link key child care data into an “analytical
cube”. Such a system will allow child care policymakers to understand the characteristics
of families and children using child care and child care vouchers. It will also
allow researchers and policymakers to assess the impact of child care policies and
help us improve our services to children and families.