An Evaluation Methodology for Measuring the Long-Term Impact of Family Strengthening and Alternative Child Care Services: The Case of Sos Children’s Villages

Abstract

Until recently, SOS Children’s Villages International, like many organisations in the social sector, lacked a rigorous and systematic approach to gauging the long-term impact of their services. With this in mind, SOS Children’s Villages International developed a social impact evaluation methodology in 2014 to measure the long-term effects of its services on children and their families and communities, as well as the social return on investment. This evaluation methodology has been tested and applied to similar service types across 15 low-, middle-, and high-income countries worldwide. The findings are regularly consolidated, in order to derive trends and learnings for the global organisation and to inform strategy and policy. The present article will discuss the evaluation methodology and the related limitations. Conclusions regarding the validity of the methodology will be offered in terms of the measurement of social service impact and the way forward.

Pregnancy and Parenting Experiences of Care-Experienced Youth in Ghana and Uganda

“…One of the residential facilities for children in both countries is SOS Children's Villages (SOS CV), a non-profit organization that helps children without parental care. The SOS care system revolves around children’s villages that have several family houses (8–15) on a large compound (Willi et al, 2020 ). Each family house has 6–8 children who live as siblings under the care of a professional caregiver called a house-mother.…”

“…The youth residences are supervised by paid adults known as youth leaders. Also, young people in tertiary or vocational training can access semi-independent living support, a form of transitional support provided by SOS CV, for a further 3 years before transitioning into the wider community, which include a rented accommodation in the community or financial assistance if living with a biological relative and a monthly stipend (Willi et al, 2020 ).…”