Suchergebnisse

This case study presents the research methods, practicalities, and challenges to implementing experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation designs in child welfare agencies. The evaluation tested the effectiveness of family group decision making in preventing children receiving in-home child protective services from another child maltreatment report or entering foster care. This study focuses on two sites, one which employed a randomized controlled trial design and one which used a quasi-experimental propensity score matching approach. Buy-in among front-line staff, survey response rates, and administrative data quality presented challenges for the project, which were addressed to the extent possible throughout the process.

Objectives: This article presents a cost-savings analysis of the statewide implementation of an evidence-informed parenting education program. Methods: Between the years 2005 and 2008, the state of Louisiana used the Nurturing Parenting Program (NPP) to impart parenting skills to child welfare-involved families. Following these families' outcomes through August 2010, increased program attendance was associated with significant reductions in substantiated incidences and re-reports of child maltreatment. Program costs and benefits (cost savings) were calculated using program, workforce, and administrative data. Results: The benefit-cost ratio of 0.87 demonstrates that the NPP approaches cost neutrality in a short time period, without the consideration of long-term benefits or benefits to other systems. Conclusion: Louisiana's child welfare department should be able to absorb all costs of statewide delivery of the NPP through observed reductions in repeat maltreatment. Targeted program delivery could potentially yield even greater savings.