Our Tomorrows Project and Using SenseMaker for Child Welfare Planning, Research, and Evaluation

Stories are a powerful and persuasive method for conveying the real-life experiences and perspectives of individuals from diverse backgrounds. They serve as an essential tool for conducting research and evaluation in child welfare populations and settings and for informing the planning and implementation of child welfare programs.

This webinar will provide an overview of Our Tomorrows—a project led by the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas—that accesses families’ stories to gain insights into the experiences of families in Kansas and uses that understanding to take action and make decisions. It will also introduce participants to SenseMaker, a web-based software platform that facilitates the collection, analysis, and visualization of qualitative data gathered directly from real people without the need for third-party or algorithmic interpretation.

The webinar will be hosted by James Bell Associates (JBA) and feature presentations by a panel of child welfare researchers and practice professionals.