NCJ Number
237279
Date Published
November 2002
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This report is an addendum to the initial evaluation of Michigan's Foster Care Structured Decision Making Case Management System (SDM).
Abstract
The findings from the second stage of the evaluation presented in this current study expand the positive case outcomes attributable to SDM implementation; findings indicate that the reunification of children in pilot sites was more successful (there were fewer reentries) and that the days in placement were reduced for all children regardless of the type of permanency achieved. While the foster care SDM pilot expedited permanency for children, more analysis was needed to determine if the impact went beyond achieved permanency. The first new question posed was whether children returned home in pilot counties reentered foster care at a higher rate. If SDM led to the premature return home of children, it would be expected that a greater proportion of children returned home by pilot agencies would reenter placement than children returned home by comparison agencies. If the reentry rate is similar for pilot and comparison agencies, it can safely be assumed that SDM does not result in children's premature return home. A second hypothesis posed questioned whether with expedited permanency, children served by pilot agencies would have fewer days in placement than children served by comparison agencies. If this were the case, then cost savings would result from SDM implementation. This addendum addresses these two additional questions. 4 tables