They are a tool to help child welfare strive for better outcomes for the children and families they serve.
By definition, performance indicators can be both descriptive and numerical results that measure the performance of an important service. They can also measure efficiency, effectiveness, value for money, and client satisfaction. For example, numerical performance indicators can measure outputs such as: how much of a service was delivered, percentage of age groups, proportion of specific factors, or the cost of interventions.
In the provincial system of performance indicators, Children’s Aid Societies are collecting numerical data to measure performance in five areas of child welfare: safety, permanence, well-being, organizational capacity, and governance effectiveness.
As of March 2015, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Servicess has been reporting on five performance indicators from Children’s Aid Societies to the public. These performance indicators focus on safety, permanency, and well-being.
