State Child Welfare Policy Guide: Part of the Policy Matters Series

1.1 Investment in evidence based prevention

Federal and state funding is tipped overwhelmingly toward remediation of family problems rather than prevention.  Investing in services and supports for at-risk families and their children targets scarce resources to those most likely to need them.  Focusing spending on research-informed practices improves the likelihood that these families will realize benefits.  Specific goals, benchmarks and ongoing monitoring are necessary to begin shifting investment toward family-strengthening services that produce positive outcomes for children.   

Requiring investment in evidence-based services .  In 2003, the Washington State Legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to examine the costs and benefits of prevention and early intervention programs for youth.  The study concluded that some programs were effective both in improving outcomes for children and youth and in saving taxpayers’ money.  It recommended that policymakers invest in these research-driven, “blue chip” prevention and early intervention programs[i].  In 2005, the Legislature responded by requiring that priority be given to child welfare funding for evidence-based prevention and early intervention. (2005 Wash. Laws, SB 6090, Chap. 518)

Texas legislation requires the state child welfare agency to fund evidence-backed programs designed to ameliorate child abuse and neglect that are offered by community-based organizations [ii] .  The priority for funding is programs that target children whose race or ethnicity is disproportionately represented in the child welfare system.  The legislation further requires the combination of funds across state agencies in order to prevent placement of children in foster care.  (2005 Tex. Gen. Laws, SB 6, Chap. 268, Secs. 164, 170.)

Setting benchmarks for investment .  In 2006, Connecticut lawmakers established the goal that, by 2020, at least ten percent of total recommended appropriations for relevant agencies be allocated to prevention services to promote the health and well-being of children and families.  The legislation imposed reporting requirements for the governor, executive branch agencies and new Child Poverty and Prevention Council, including an annual prevention report within the governor’s budget that indicates the state’s progress toward the 2020 funding goal. (2006 Conn. Acts, HB 5254) [iii]

Policy Options:   States can promote investment in evidence-based prevention by adopting either or both of the following policies:

• Require investment in evidence-based or research-informed prevention and early intervention programs. 

• Set targets for shifting resources from remedial services to preventive and early intervention services.