IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v143y2022ics0190740922003395.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a solution-focused intervention in child protection services

Author

Listed:
  • Medina, Antonio
  • Beyebach, Mark
  • García, Felipe E.

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the impact on child welfare of introducing solution-focused principles and intervention techniques in the local child protection service of the island of Tenerife, Spain. 152 workers from 34 local child protection teams participated in the study. Goal achievement, parents’ and children’s self-reported well-being, and statutory child welfare measures were recorded during one year. Then the child protection teams were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental condition. 73 workers in the experimental condition, serving 271 families, received 30 h of training and 30 h of supervision in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT). 79 workers in the control condition, serving 206 families, continued to intervene as usual. The dependent variables were evaluated again in the experimental and in the control group one year after the supervision in SFBT had finished. Results indicate that the experimental and the control group had equivalent outcomes at pre-test. At post-test, the experimental group achieved better outcomes than the control group: workers’ and parents’ goal achievement ratings as well as parents’ and children well-being ratings were higher, fewer cases had been referred to risk teams, fewer children had been removed from their homes and recidivism was lower. The effects were small for goal achievement, medium for recidivism, and large for well-being and child removal. The teams that used SFBT reached these outcomes with fewer sessions and allocating fewer additional resources than the control group.

Suggested Citation

  • Medina, Antonio & Beyebach, Mark & García, Felipe E., 2022. "Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a solution-focused intervention in child protection services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:143:y:2022:i:c:s0190740922003395
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106703
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740922003395
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106703?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Antle, Becky F. & Barbee, Anita P. & Christensen, Dana N. & Sullivan, Dana J., 2009. "The prevention of child maltreatment recidivism through the Solution-Based Casework model of child welfare practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1346-1351, December.
    2. Kemp, Susan P. & Marcenko, Maureen O. & Lyons, Sandra J. & Kruzich, Jean M., 2014. "Strength-based practice and parental engagement in child welfare services: An empirical examination," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P1), pages 27-35.
    3. Koob, Jeffrey J. & Love, Susan M., 2010. "The implementation of solution-focused therapy to increase foster care placement stability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1346-1350, October.
    4. Solomon, David & Åsberg, Kia, 2012. "Effectiveness of child protective services interventions as indicated by rates of recidivism," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2311-2318.
    5. Buckley, Helen & Whelan, Sadhbh & Carr, Nicola, 2011. "'Like waking up in a Franz Kafka novel': Service users' experiences of the child protection system when domestic violence and acrimonious separations are involved," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 126-133, January.
    6. Jonson-Reid, Melissa, 2003. "Foster Care and Future Risk of Maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 271-294, April.
    7. Williamson, Erin & Gray, Aracelis, 2011. "New roles for families in child welfare: Strategies for expanding family involvement beyond the case level," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1212-1216, July.
    8. Cepukiene, Viktorija & Pakrosnis, Rytis, 2011. "The outcome of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy among foster care adolescents: The changes of behavior and perceived somatic and cognitive difficulties," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 791-797, June.
    9. Lietz, Cynthia A., 2011. "Theoretical adherence to family centered practice: Are strengths-based principles illustrated in families' descriptions of child welfare services?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 888-893, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kisiel, Cassandra & Guarnaccia, Uma & Pinkerton, Linzy & Garibaldi, Patricia & Agosti, Jen, 2024. "Empowering transition age youth through trauma-informed, strengths-based, youth-centered, and anti-racist practices: Implementation of a virtual breakthrough series collaborative," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    2. Toros, Karmen & DiNitto, Diana Maria & Tiko, Anne, 2018. "Family engagement in the child welfare system: A scoping review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 598-607.
    3. Estefan, Lianne Fuino & Coulter, Martha L. & VandeWeerd, Carla L. & Armstrong, Mary & Gorski, Peter, 2012. "Receiving mandated therapeutic services: Experiences of parents involved in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2353-2360.
    4. Cepukiene, Viktorija & Pakrosnis, Rytis & Ulinskaite, Ginte, 2018. "Outcome of the solution-focused self-efficacy enhancement group intervention for adolescents in foster care setting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 81-87.
    5. Blocker, Madeline S. & Noell, George H. & Clark, Kelly N., 2021. "Promoting assertiveness in youth in foster care: Pilot testing a brief intervention in a randomized trial," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    6. Williams, Annie & Reed, Hayley & Rees, Gwyther & Segrott, Jeremy, 2018. "Improving relationship–based practice, practitioner confidence and family engagement skills through restorative approach training," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 170-177.
    7. Huebner, Ruth A. & Hall, Martin T. & Smead, Erin & Willauer, Tina & Posze, Lynn, 2018. "Peer mentoring services, opportunities, and outcomes for child welfare families with substance use disorders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 239-246.
    8. Hébert, Sophie T. & Esposito, Tonino & Hélie, Sonia, 2018. "How short-term placements affect placement trajectories: A propensity-weighted analysis of re-entry into care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 117-124.
    9. Venables, Jemma, 2019. "Practitioner perspectives on implementing an alternative response in statutory child protection: The role of local practice context and leadership teams in shaping practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    10. Dunkerley, Stacy & Brown, Amanda & Akin, Becci & McArthur, Vickie, 2024. "Honoring Family: Using parent partner expertise to strengthen a child welfare coaching program," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    11. Diana N. Teixeira & Isabel Narciso & Margarida R. Henriques, 2022. "Driving for Success in Family Reunification—Professionals’ Views on Intervention," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-20, December.
    12. Fuller, Tamara L., 2005. "Child safety at reunification: A case-control study of maltreatment recurrence following return home from substitute care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(12), pages 1293-1306, December.
    13. Chambers, Jeff M. & Lint, Sandy & Thompson, Maggie G. & Carlson, Matthew W. & Graef, Michelle I., 2019. "Outcomes of the Iowa Parent Partner program evaluation: Stability of reunification and re-entry into foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    14. Jarpe-Ratner, Elizabeth & Bellamy, Jennifer L. & Yang, Duck-Hye & Smithgall, Cheryl, 2015. "Using child welfare assessments and latent class analysis to identify prevalence and comorbidity of parent service needs," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 75-82.
    15. Russell, Jesse Rio & Kerwin, Colleen & Halverson, Julie L., 2018. "Is child protective services effective?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 185-192.
    16. Kemp, Susan P. & Marcenko, Maureen O. & Lyons, Sandra J. & Kruzich, Jean M., 2014. "Strength-based practice and parental engagement in child welfare services: An empirical examination," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P1), pages 27-35.
    17. Dolan, Melissa & Casanueva, Cecilia & Smith, Keith & Day, Orin & Dowd, Kathryn, 2014. "Child abuse and neglect re-reports: Combining and comparing data from two national sources," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 47(P3), pages 323-333.
    18. Garcia, Antonio R. & DeNard, Christina & Ohene, Serena & Morones, Seth M. & Connaughton, Clare, 2018. "“I am more than my past”: Parents' attitudes and perceptions of the Positive Parenting Program in Child Welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 286-297.
    19. Barth, Richard P. & Weigensberg, Elizabeth C. & Fisher, Philip A. & Fetrow, Becky & Green, Rebecca L., 2008. "Reentry of elementary aged children following reunification from foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 353-364, April.
    20. Rushovich, Berenice & Sepulveda, Kristin & Efetevbia, Victoria & Malm, Karin, 2021. "A post-reunification service model: Implementation and population served," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:143:y:2022:i:c:s0190740922003395. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.