The Data Collected

The collaborative data efforts of AspireMN are not only unique in Minnesota (as most public systems collect minimal data on the well-being of children and youth they serve) but also unique nationally. In fact, only a handful of entities across the United States harness data similar to that of AspireMN. The CORE data system will continue to inform programs and policies while improving and deepening impact for Minnesota’s children and families.

CORE collects basic demographic information about the children and youth receiving services at AspireMN member organizations, including data on:

  • Age
  • Grade level
  • Race
  • Gender identity
  • Characteristics of the child/youth's primary household
data image with circles

Through intake, discharge, follow-up forms, and satisfaction surveys, CORE reports on several important outcomes for children and youth, including the following assessments:

  • Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
  • Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment
  • Early Childhood Service Intensity Instrument (ECSII)
  • Child and Adolescent Service Intensity Instrument (CASII)
  • Problem Oriented Screening Instrument for Teenagers (POSIT)
  • University of Minnesota Traumatic Stress Screen for Children and Adolescents

Data from the following areas are also collected:

  • Basic physical health information
  • Information regarding abuse and neglect
  • Placement and housing-related data, including questions about experiences of homelessness
  • Re-entry into services
  • Service/treatment prior to placement
  • Delinquency history
  • School-related services
  • Internalizing behaviors
  • Externalizing behaviors

The CORE platform is capable of delivering a variety of timely reports on progress and outcomes to participating organizations. In addition, CORE, like its predecessor system, has support from external analysts at the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare and will produce and provide:

  • Annual outcome reports on all programs included in the data set
  • Annual aggregate outcome report on all CORE data
  • Data that can be queried and reported on based on specific program types, and individualized to contribute to greater depths of analysis as needed
  • A valuable foundation for conducting research studies on long-term factors and outcome scenarios for children, youth and families with data held by other state data sets

AspireMN members are truly inspired to continue the investment in outcome evaluation and contribute vital data and its findings to build a system of care that is increasingly effective in supporting the unique needs of children, youth and families in Minnesota.