Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Interventional Diagnostic Procedure: A Practical Guide for the Assessment of Coronary Vascular Function
Published on: March 15, 2022
Development of a radical foster care intervention in Glasgow, Scotland
Kathleen Anne Boyd1, Mayowa Oluwatosin Balogun2, Helen Minnis3
1Health Economics and Health Technology Assessment, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK kathleen.boyd@glasgow.ac.uk.
Insights
Implementing a New Orleans model for infant mental health services in Glasgow could reduce repeated child welfare episodes. While initial costs may rise, the long-term cost per child is projected to decrease, improving outcomes for maltreated children.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Public Health Policy
- Social Work Services
Background:
- Services for maltreated children globally are insufficient, lacking crucial infant mental health support.
- Glasgow's child welfare system shows children cycling between birth parents and foster care, indicating systemic issues.
- Current service models require significant reform to effectively address infant mental health needs in this vulnerable population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the structure and costs of existing Glasgow child welfare services.
- To evaluate the potential impact and costs of implementing a New Orleans-style infant mental health program in Glasgow.
- To inform the design of a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) for this intervention.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of service delivery models.
- Analysis of Glasgow City Council audit data on child welfare.
- Incorporation of expert opinions on service implementation and costs.
- Economic modeling to compare current and proposed service models.
Main Results:
- The New Orleans-Glasgow model is projected to shift resources from social services to the National Health Service (NHS).
- The cost per episode of care may increase from £66,300 to £86,070.
- However, the probability of repeated episodes in care is expected to decrease significantly, lowering the overall cost per child from £95,500 to £88,600.
Conclusions:
- A New Orleans-Glasgow model offers a potentially more cost-effective approach to child welfare by reducing recidivism.
- This model necessitates a resource shift towards healthcare services.
- The study identified key outcomes and research gaps for a phase II exploratory RCT.
Abstract:
Services for maltreated children are inadequate and lack infant mental health input in many parts of the world. A recent audit of Glasgow services revealed that children frequently 'revolve' between maltreating birth parents and various temporary foster placements for many years. Addressing infant mental health in this population will require radical change to current services. The New Orleans programme developed by the Tulane Infant Team in Louisiana is one such radical programme. Prior to the design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test this programme in Glasgow, it was essential that policy-makers had some insight into the local model of service delivery and how a New Orleans model could impact. This article explores the structure and costs of the current Glasgow system and the potential costs and consequence impact of implementing a New Orleans model in Glasgow, using data obtained from the research literature, Glasgow City Council audit data and expert's opinion. A New Orleans-Glasgow model would likely shift resources from social services on to the NHS. The resource intensive nature of this model could increase the cost of an episode in care from £66 300 in the current system to £86 070; however, the probability of repeated episodes in care is likely to fall substantially, making the cost per child fall from £95 500 in the current system to £88 600. This study informed the design of a phase II explorative RCT, identified appropriate outcomes for measurement and areas of uncertainty for further research.
