Return to Events

NAPD - Data Collection in Social Work


Time: November 18, 2024 - 3-4:30pm
Location: Webinar

For several decades, public defender offices and other indigent defense providers have incorporated social workers, mitigation specialists, and other holistic practitioners into their representation in an effort to both reduce reliance on incarceration and better address the needs of individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. In recent years, a handful of researchers have attempted to measure the impact of such providers on client outcomes, but generally speaking, there has been little conversation nationally of the importance of data collection related to these services. In this session, we will discuss ways to collect and utilize data on social worker/mitigation services to educate others about their utility, demonstrate the impact of services on clients, and advocate for more funding. We will share the four-tiered approach to collecting social work data developed by a collaboration of practitioners and researchers in Michigan for your use and also your feedback. The tiered approach aims to make data collection simple and accessible for all providers. We will also discuss early efforts to connect with other practitioners across the country to develop best practice data points for broader use.