Developing Strategic Communications for Data Teams

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau

Graphic and Website Design Marketing and Communications Media and Communications

National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) work examples

The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) is a voluntary data collection system operated by the Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau that gathers information from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico about reports of child abuse and neglect.

Challenge

The NCANDS team wanted to improve how it communicated with state child welfare staff who report on child abuse data. Their communications needed to clearly convey complex data, highlight key findings, and build trust, while also updating an outdated visual identity.

Solution

We created a cohesive communications framework, including a strategic communications plan, refreshed branding, and visually engaging materials. Our work helped the team clarify priorities, improve cohesion across materials, and better connect with their audiences.

Results

The NCANDS team has a clear communications roadmap, a refreshed and professional brand, and visually accessible materials that make complex data understandable. These improvements strengthened trust with state staff and stakeholders.

Strategic Communications Plan

To refocus and refine communication to the NCANDS audience, we developed a comprehensive communications plan outlining audiences, challenges, goals, and strategies. The plan helped organize priorities and identify clear next steps, providing a roadmap for ongoing outreach and engagement efforts.

Branding

To modernize NCANDS’s visual identity and build audience trust, we created a new logo and brand guidelines. The design balances professionalism and approachability, reflecting the sensitivity of child abuse and neglect while remaining accessible and recognizable to state-level audiences.

IT and Technical Assistance for NCANDS

Learn how NCANDS collects and maintains national child abuse and neglect data.

Learn More

Large Format Poster

To make complex data easily digestible at conferences, our graphic designer experts created a large infographic poster summarizing key findings. The poster presents a high volume of information in a visually engaging way, allowing attendees to quickly understand NCANDS’s most important insights.