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Assessing the cost-effectiveness of Family Connections
Diane DePanfilis1, Howard Dubowitz, James Kunz
1University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|April 2, 2008
Summary
The 3-month Family Connections (FC) program is more cost-effective for improving child safety and reducing neglect risk. However, the 9-month FC intervention is more cost-effective for improving child behavior. These findings aid decisions on optimal program length.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare Research
- Public Health Interventions
- Health Economics
Background:
- Child neglect prevention programs aim to improve child safety and family well-being.
- Family Connections (FC) is a program designed to mitigate risks associated with child neglect.
- Determining the optimal duration of intervention is crucial for resource allocation and program effectiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of 3-month versus 9-month Family Connections (FC) interventions.
- To compare the impact of different intervention lengths on risk and protective factors.
- To assess the influence of intervention duration on child safety and behavioral outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial comparing 3-month and 9-month FC interventions.
- Data collection included child protective services reports, self-reports, and observational measures.
- Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted based on intervention duration and reported outcomes.
Main Results:
- The 3-month FC intervention demonstrated greater cost-effectiveness in enhancing protective factors and child safety.
- The 9-month FC intervention was more cost-effective in improving child behavior outcomes.
- Cost-effectiveness ratios indicated differential benefits based on intervention length and outcome measure.
Conclusions:
- Both 3-month and 9-month FC interventions show varying cost-effectiveness depending on the targeted outcomes.
- Findings suggest that intervention duration should be tailored to specific goals, such as risk reduction or behavioral improvement.
- Further cost analyses in diverse settings are needed to inform practice regarding service delivery timing.
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