Lessons in Data Linkage: Four Examples from Home Visiting Research Copy Resource Link Link copied to clipboard

Linking administrative data across early childhood programs and sectors has the potential to improve service delivery for families, inform program and policy decisions, and track long-term outcomes. A previous review of studies that linked home visiting program data with other administrative data sources revealed a dearth of published information about the foundational efforts that went into the planning and visioning for these studies.

To better understand this gap, we selected four examples that demonstrated the breadth of approaches to using linked home visiting data including: universal home visiting program evaluation (Massachusetts), cost-benefit analysis (Arkansas), assessment of reach using GIS data (South Carolina), and child welfare involvement among home visiting participants (Texas). We interviewed authors from each study to gain additional insights into planning and logistics, including partnerships, data access, data governance and technology that are not traditionally provided in published articles. This brief describes the results of those interviews.