How does the Protect MiFamily model improve the well-being of at-risk families?

挑战

To help keep children safe in their own homes and improve child well-being and family functioning, the Michigan Department of Human 服务’ Protect MiFamily program provides intensive and innovative long-term, home-based services to at-risk families.

The Title IV-E waivers lift some of the restrictions on how states may spend federal dollars intended for foster care placements.

The challenge is to determine how well the Protect MiFamily service model improves the well-being of these families.

Working with the University of Michigan, hg体育官网 is conducting the required evaluation of the waiver demonstration.

解决方案

The evaluation is a randomized controlled trial that uses statistical measurements to support outcome, 过程, and cost analysis methodologies.

The study includes collecting primary and administrative data; performing model fidelity analysis; and conducting 过程 evaluations, 结果分析, and cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis.

The primary data collected on treatment group children and families throughout the program stages include child assessments on social and emotional health, parents’ psychosocial assessments and protective factors, and family satisfaction surveys on services received, 以及所需要的服务, 被称为, 和接收.

The child welfare administrative data collected on both treatment and control group families include safety and risk assessments, reports of child abuse and neglect, 以及寄养安排.

结果

Our evaluation will show whether the Protect MiFamily project model is able to

• Lower the rates of child abuse and neglect
• Decrease the number of children entering foster care
• Help parents better protect and nurture their children

韦斯特的评估将会

• Study the effectiveness of the service model in meeting the needs of at-risk families
• Analyze the fidelity of the service model
• Evaluate family and child outcomes
• Determine if the program is cost-effective