Georgia KIDS COUNT

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Georgia KIDS COUNT

• Using Data for
• Assessment, Planning,
• and Evaluation

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Training Objectives

• Access the KIDS COUNT database http//www.gafcp.or
  g/kidscount
• Examine the data for your county, region, and
  Georgia
• Understand data limitations
• Import data into Excel

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Why Data Are Important

• Value what is measured
• Track trends and changes
• Frame issues
• Improve decision making
• Tell the story
• Make it personal

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Why Use Data?

• To help
• Describe a problem or issue
• Answer a question
• Set priorities
• Monitor changes

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Other Considerations

• Issue of concern in community (e.g., as
  demonstrated in survey, focus groups)
• Hot issue (e.g., funding available, legislative
  priority)
• Organizationally makes sense (e.g., fits with
  current strategies, new partnership
  opportunities)

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With the Georgia KIDS COUNT Web Database you can.

• View, graph, map, chart or download indicator
  data for the 159 counties, school systems, 12
  service delivery regions, state legislative
  districts, and/or Census tracks in Georgia.
• Print a county profile.
• Print a state summary.
• Access other databases.

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Data Applications

• Interested in the magnitude (number and rate) of
  an indicator? (Profiles)
• Want to know changes in the scope of the
  indicator? (Line Graphs)
• Curious about the relative standing of a county?
  (Rankings or Maps)

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Getting Started

• http//www.gafcp.org
• Click on Kids Count then,
• On left side, you can click Data Search by or
• Click County factsheets for a county factsheet.
  Pdf format updated annually.

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Indicator Data and Profiles

• Click on Data Search by
• Can search by geographic areas of
• County / School system
• Region
• State legislative district

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County Profile

• Click on your county, School District (city
  school system), or Other (Region).
• Browse, print the entire profile (about 16
  pages), or copy a table to Excel.
• Note that the Georgia data is presented for
  comparison but not the Region data.
• The 16 pages are dominated by definitions. Print
  the first 4 pages to get the profile without
  definitions.
• Profiles are updated as data become available
  throughout the year.

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Line Graphs

• Go to the top of the page and click on Line
  Graphs
• Select a geographic area(s) you can select
  Georgia and up to seven counties, or multiple
  regions, or multiple school districts. But, you
  cannot mix counties / regions / school districts.
• Click on Next Step

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Line Graphs

• Select an indicator (note that rates and numbers
  are available for some indicators).
• And, you get a colorful graph (which can be
  copied and pasted to Excel or PowerPoint), a
  table of the values used to produce the graph
  (this table can also be cut and pasted), and the
  definition of the indicator.

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Maps

• The site does not currently allow mapping of
  Regions.
• The software divides the counties into four
  groups with equal numbers.
• The map can also be copied and pasted.
• The next slide shows the 12 service delivery
  regions.

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Raw Data

• Go back to the CLIKS home page
• Click on the Raw Data icon
• Select Georgia (or another state)
• Select the specific file (percent)
• Specify Save and indicate directory
• Repeat for the numbers file

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Raw Data

• Now you have two Excel files - a rate table and
  the corresponding numerator (number of events of
  interest).
• Note that you do not have the corresponding
  denominator.
• Your raw data includes values for Georgia, all
  counties, all regions, and city school systems
  (where applicable).

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Data Pitfalls and Pointers

• Provide complete information
• Year, age range, source, data definition
• Use official sources when possible
• KIDS COUNT
• Go to original source of data (public health,
  school systems)
• Understand and know when composite indicators are
  used
• Teen violent deaths
• Healthy start

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Data Pitfalls and Pointers

• Small Numbers
• Issue for small populations and the large number
  of rural counties in Georgia
• Low Number Events year are not reported in Georgia KIDS COUNT
• For small populations
• consider increasing the number of years you use
  (3 or 5 year trend)
• Increase geographic area. Combine several small,
  similar counties or look at region.

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Data Pitfalls and Pointers

• Using Trend Data
• Read the definition. Compare apples to
  applesfor instance, substantiated child abuse
  vs. reports of child abuse.
• Determine if data are raw numbers, rates
  (percents), or average.
• When in doubt, use data collected by primary
  agency such as DHR/DFCS rather than data compiled
  by another agency.
• Determine if data are collected for same time
  period
• Point-in-time? Federal fiscal year? State fiscal
  year? Calendar year?

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Displaying Data

• Audience target audience determines how you
  display data, the detail needed, and the depth of
  the data displayed. Charts, graphs, tables,
  rates, percentages.what to use with different
  audiences?
• Media
• Partners
• Program participants
• Funders
• Policy makers

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Using Data to Tell a Story

• Presentation
• Accuracy
• Relevance

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Other Useful Websites

• http//oasis.dhr.state.ga.us/ - Georgia Vital
  Records data births, deaths, infant deaths, and
  populations with mapping capabilities
• http//gis.cdc.gov/drh/ - CDC Reproductive Health
  Atlas
• http//techservices.doe.k12.ga.us/reportcard/
  Georgia Department of Education school system and
  individual school data