Child welfare privatization: quantitative indicators and policy issues

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the development of safety, permanency, and child well-being indicators by using administrative data sets as well as by using these indicators as tools for evaluating Florida's Community-Based Care (CBC) initiative. Longitudinal data from 37 counties including 4 counties that implemented community-based care were examined in this study. The results of the study indicated that the overall performance of CBC counties is at least as good as the performance of their comparison run by the state counties. The findings that emerged from this study may provide important lessons for developing a performance measurement system in the child welfare field.     

Comparing child protective investigation performance between law enforcement agencies and child welfare agencies

This study examines the comparative effectiveness of using law enforcement agencies for child protective investigation (CPI), in contrast with the traditional approach of CPI conducted by the public child welfare agency. The analysis uses 2006-2007 data from a natural experiment conducted in Florida to show modest differences in performance and cost-efficiency between the two approaches to CPI. These findings may have implications for other states considering outsourcing CPI to law enforcement.     

Assessment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Interventions Among Middle School Youth

The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes for students enrolled in two teen pregnancy prevention programs: the Youth Asset Development Program (YADP); and the Postponing Sexual Involvement Program (PSIP) and identify possible areas for program refinement. The study design consisted of two sets of comparisons: (a) sixth-grade students who completed the PSIP versus the control school; and (b) the YMCA Success Centers where the YADP was introduced versus the control school. Two hundred thirty-seven students were selected to participate in the study. Students who participated in the prevention programs had significantly (p < .05) higher academic achievement, participation in school related activities, and enjoyed school much more than students from the control school. However, no statistically significant differences were found between program participants and the control group when they were compared on personal orientation and judgments about teenage parenthood. Implications for program modification and program effectiveness are discussed.     

The FACES Project: an academic-community partnership to improve end-of-life care for families

This article reports on a research partnership between a community-based hospice and a graduate school of social work. The purpose of the collaboration was to design and test a tool for assessing caregiver strain and resources in families caring for older adults receiving hospice home care services. Eighteen hospice home care social workers interviewed 162 caregivers for the study and provided their own assessment of the tool's clinical utility. Both strengths and challenges of the collaboration are evaluated and implications are discussed for social work practice and research, particularly academic-community research partnerships.