Fact Sheet – How Does the Prevention Services Clearinghouse Rate the Design and Execution of Studies?, Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0

The Prevention Services Clearinghouse conducts objective, independent, and transparent reviews of research on programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families and prevent foster care placements. This Fact Sheet provides an overview of how the Clearinghouse rates the design and execution of the studies it reviews. Studies are assigned a rating of high, moderate, or low support of causal evidence, based on the extent to which they meet the Clearinghouse’s design and execution standards. This Fact Sheet has been updated to reflect the Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0. 

The Fact Sheet aims to address frequently asked questions about how the Clearinghouse rates the design and execution of studies it reviews, describe common reasons why studies may receive low ratings on the design and execution standards, and lay out possible approaches to design and execute studies in alignment with the standards. 

Jackson, C., Wilson, S. J., & Glenn, M. (2024). How Does the Prevention Services Clearinghouse Rate the Design and Execution of Studies?, Handbook of Standards and Procedures, Version 2.0, OPRE Report 2024-XXX, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.