The Two-Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool
Next Steps for Rigorous Research on Two-Generation Approaches
Prepared for:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation
- The two-generation mutual reinforcement measurement tool is a first step to quantify a two-generation initiative’s level of mutual reinforcement. A valid and reliable measure of mutual reinforcement could provide actionable information specific to two-generation initiatives that will strengthen their service delivery, and therefore, child and family outcomes.
- The Two-Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool is intended for research and evaluation purposes, both formative and summative. To use this tool in a formative way, two-generation initiative staff and partners from the same initiative can work together to answer the questions, generate a mutual reinforcement score using the electronic version of the tool, identify areas for strengthening their initiative, and track changes over time as they work on those areas.
- The NS2G team designed the tool so that higher scores indicate stronger levels of mutual reinforcement. However, this tool and its scoring method are preliminary and not yet validated. While the NS2G team assumes that improving scores coincide with strengthening mutual reinforcement, the NS2G team does not yet know what scores translate to emergent, strong, or exemplary levels of mutual reinforcement. Once the tool and its scoring method are validated, two-generation initiatives and their research partners may be able to use this tool in a summative way (for example, in an impact evaluation).
Two-generation initiatives intentionally combine intensive, high quality adult-focused services with intensive, high quality child-focused programs (such as Head Start or early childhood education) to improve outcomes for children, primary caregivers, and families. The goal of integrating services for primary caregivers and their children is to achieve better outcomes than those accomplished by serving each generation in isolation (Chase-Lansdale and Brooks-Gunn 2014; Sama-Miller et al. 2017). Although interest in two-generation initiatives has grown, the field lacks commonly accepted definitions and measures of relevant characteristics, processes, and outcomes.
Mutual reinforcement is a key concept in the two-generation field and is of interest to both researchers and practitioners. Mutual reinforcement occurs when service providers align and build on each other’s efforts to serve whole families by adopting a shared vision and working toward common or compatible goals. A valid and reliable measure of mutual reinforcement could provide actionable information specific to two-generation initiatives to strengthen their service delivery, and therefore, child and family outcomes. This brief describes the development of the Two-Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool, the findings from a small pilot study (May through July 2022), how the tool is scored, and next steps for developing the tool.
The Two-Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool is intended for research and evaluation purposes, both formative and summative. To use this tool in a formative way, two-generation initiative staff and partners from the same initiative can work together to answer the questions, generate a mutual reinforcement score using the electronic version of the tool, identify areas for strengthening their initiative, and track changes over time as they work on those areas.
Appendix D: Two Generation Mutual Reinforcement Measurement Tool (Excel)
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