Mathematica is conducting focus groups to explore sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection for youth in foster care and foster/adoptive parents. The study is being conducted on behalf of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and in cooperation with the Children’s Bureau. They are seeking focus group participants who are child welfare administrators or data leaders knowledgeable about best practices for SOGI data collection. The information from the focus groups will be used to make recommendations about how to promote youth and family well-being and how best to support states in their efforts to collect and make use of SOGI data in child welfare. The focus group will involve a 90-minute time commitment and will be scheduled once participants are identified. No advance preparation is required.

For more information and to express your interest, please contact Elizabeth Dziedzic, project coordinator, by May 6 at CWSOGIDATA@mathematica-mpr.com. Please put “SOGI Data Collection- Administrator Focus Group” as the subject line. You are welcome to forward this request to others in your organization who may be interested.