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Related Experiment Videos

Evaluating intensive family preservation programs: a methodological review

A M Heneghan1, S M Horwitz, J M Leventhal

  • 1Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

Pediatrics
|April 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary
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Evaluations of family preservation services (FPS) show they are often methodologically flawed and ineffective in preventing child out-of-home placements. Rigorous research is needed to determine the true effectiveness of these services for at-risk children.

Area of Science:

  • Social Work Research
  • Child Welfare Studies
  • Program Evaluation

Background:

  • Family Preservation Services (FPS) aim to support families and prevent child removal.
  • These services are widely utilized for children at risk of abuse or neglect.
  • The effectiveness and evaluation quality of FPS require critical assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the methodological adequacy of existing family preservation service evaluations.
  • To assess the effectiveness of family preservation services in reducing out-of-home child placements.
  • To identify research gaps and inform future social policy.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic review of published and unpublished references from 1977-1993.
  • Inclusion criteria focused on intensive FPS evaluations with outcome data and comparison groups.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Methodological quality was assessed using a 15-item questionnaire by independent raters.

    • Main Results:

    • Only 2 out of 10 reviewed studies were rated as acceptable quality.
    • Common methodological issues included poorly defined risk assessment, intervention descriptions, and outcome determination.
    • Family preservation services showed no significant benefit in reducing out-of-home placements in 80% of the studies.

    Conclusions:

    • Existing evaluations of family preservation services are often methodologically weak.
    • Current evidence does not support the effectiveness of FPS in preventing out-of-home placements for at-risk children.
    • There is a critical need for methodologically rigorous evaluations to guide policy and practice.