Report Card Data Sources

In order to provide a comprehensive picture of the health and well-being of children ages in our communities, data for the Report Cards were obtained from a spectrum of sources, ranging from broad population data to service specific, agency-based information and data. The Data Analysis Working Group (DAWG) established a set of protocols for the collection of information from community agencies and organizations, which helped to preserve the validity, reliability, and confidentiality of the information cited in this Report Card. Three key protocols are:

• Only data with no identifying information about families or individuals was requested or accepted for use in the Report Cards.

• Agency-specific information, such as numbers of clients served, would only be used if the DAWG was confident that we were able to access the data of all agencies that provided similar services. Our intent is that all data presented in the Report Card should provide a picture of the community, rather than agency-specific activities. This was especially important when population denominators were unknown.

• Whenever possible, comparable information for Wellington, Dufferin, and Guelph was presented. Exceptions were made for data specific to a certain geographic area that would provide valuable information for service planning.