Journal of Science Policy & Governance
​Volume 19, Issue 01 | November 01, 2021

Policy Memo: Expanding State Research Capacity in Child Welfare: The Need for State Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

Elisabeth S. Wilson (1), Heather Hendley (1), Rachel D. Russell (1), Heather H. Kestian (1), Terry J. Stigdon (1)
  1. Indiana Department of Child Services, Indianapolis, IN

Corresponding author: [email protected]
Keywords: IRB, human subjects research, child welfare, practice-based research​

Executive Summary

​In 2018, funding for child welfare programs drastically changed under the Bipartisan Budget Act: Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). To pull Title IV-E funding for prevention programs, all states must evaluate outcomes of children and families involved in child welfare. To meet these guidelines, state agencies need research structures, including internal Institutional Review Boards (IRBs). IRBs allow state governments to conduct ethical research, and expand research within the discipline. As researchers pursue careers outside of academia, these structures are pivotal and lead to policy contributions and knowledge in the discipline. This study evaluates the following in all 50 US states: How many states have internal IRBs? How many states have IRBs that are accessible to the state’s child welfare agency? How have states set-up internal IRBs to function within a government context? The analysis found 34 states have at least one federally registered IRB of which 31 appear active within the state. However, only 11 of the 31 states have an IRB accessible to child welfare departments. These 11 states provide a blueprint for how to establish and maintain an IRB that supports child welfare agencies. Three distinct set ups emerged: holistic multi-department IRB, singular department/agency IRB, or those governed by an inter-agency sharing agreement. These findings show multiple states use an internal IRB to support state researchers. However, these IRBs are not currently accessible to the child welfare agency. For agencies to meet the requirements of FFPSA, IRBs must be expanded to the child welfare agency or built within the state. 

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Background header image from the Institute of Education Sciences (ies.ed.gov) under a Public Domain license
​Elisabeth S. Wilson studied Biology and Sociology at DePauw University where she was introduced to interdisciplinary policy research through her Senior Thesis: Legislators as Peer Reviewers: How legislators influence scientific research produced by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). She pursued her MS degree from North Dakota State University studying how agricultural practices impact pollinator nesting behavior. Now, Elisabeth is the Senior Research Analyst for the Indiana Department of Child Services where she works to build research capacity within child welfare and state government. Elisabeth hopes to dedicate her career to expanding research access and informing decision makers on evidence-based decision making.
 
Heather Hendley graduated with a BA in Psychology and started her journey with the Department of Child Services as a family case manager in 2010. She has been instrumental in building and ultimately leading Indiana’s statewide program for older youth, Collaborative Care. Presently, Heather is the Assistant Deputy Director of Strategic Solutions and Agency Transformation where she manages federal reporting, continuous quality improvement, quality service and assurance, and research and evaluation for the Department. Heather hopes to coordinate efforts across these disciplines to inform large scale changes within the Department to positively impact the lives of children and families.
 
Rachel D. Russell received degrees in Anthropology, English, and French from Purdue University. She obtained her juris doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. She has served as a paralegal in public defense, clerked at the Lake County Public Defender's Office in Crown Point, Indiana where she assisted with death penalty cases, and externed for Margret G. Robb at the Indiana Court of Appeals. After law school, Rachel became a public health lawyer and deputy general counsel for several years at the Indiana Department of Health. She began her tenure at the Indiana Department of Child Services in 2017 as Deputy General Counsel and Ethics Officer.
 
Heather H. Kestian has been a licensed attorney in good standing with the Indiana Supreme Court since October 2008. She joined the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) in 2008 as a local office attorney where she represented the agency in Child in Need of Services (CHINS), Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) proceedings, and in appellate matters. She has served as an Administrative Law Judge for DCS, a Local Office Director for DCS, and the Collaborative Care Field Director. She currently serves as the Deputy Director for Strategic Solutions and Agency Transformation (SSAT). She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Toledo College of Law in May 2008.
 
Terry J. Stigdon MSN, RN, was appointed as director of the Indiana Department of Child Services in early 2018. Stigdon has implemented changes aimed at offering the best service to Hoosier children and families. As a result of her efforts the state has seen a decrease in children in residential treatment and foster care. Prior to her appointment, she spent nearly 20 years at Riley Hospital for Children. Her work took her to the pediatric intensive care unit as well as the emergency medicine and trauma center. Stigdon, a Chicago native, holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing as well as a master’s degree in nursing leadership and management.
 
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Noelle Russell for her thoughtful review of the manuscript. Thank you to all the IRB coordinators who communicated with us throughout this analysis. Thank you to Peter Serles and Nabanita Nawar for their thoughtful reviews of the manuscript.
 
Disclaimer
All authors work for the Indiana Department of Child Services; however, no individual’s salary or compensation is dependent on the analysis or publication of the manuscript. 

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