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Multiple Response System: Evaluation of Policy Change in North Carolina's Child Welfare System

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  • Lawrence, C. Nicole
  • Rosanbalm, Katie D.
  • Dodge, Kenneth A.

Abstract

Systemic challenges within child welfare have prompted many states to explore new strategies aimed at protecting children while meeting the needs of families, but doing so within the confines of shrinking budgets. Differential Response has emerged as a promising practice for low or moderate risk cases of child maltreatment. This mixed methods evaluation explored various aspects of North Carolina's differential response system, known as the Multiple Response System (MRS), including: child safety, timeliness of response and case decision, frontloading of services, case distribution, implementation of Child and Family Teams, collaboration with community-based service providers and Shared Parenting. Utilizing Child Protective Services (CPS) administrative data, researchers found that compared to matched control counties, MRS: had a positive impact on child safety evidenced by a decline in the rates of substantiations and re-assessments; temporarily disrupted timeliness of response in pilot counties but had no effect on time to case decision; and increased the number of upfront services provided to families during assessment. Qualitative data collected through focus groups with providers and phone interviews with families provided important information on key MRS strategies, highlighting aspects that families and social workers like as well as identifying areas for improvement. This information is useful for continuous quality improvement efforts, particularly related to the development of training and technical assistance programs at the state and local level.

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence, C. Nicole & Rosanbalm, Katie D. & Dodge, Kenneth A., 2011. "Multiple Response System: Evaluation of Policy Change in North Carolina's Child Welfare System," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2355-2365.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:11:p:2355-2365
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2011.08.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Conley, Amy, 2007. "Differential response: A critical examination of a secondary prevention model," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(11), pages 1454-1468, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lai, Jianchao & Graef, Michelle & Franke, Todd & Burnham, Toby, 2023. "Contextual determinants of re-reporting for families receiving alternative response: A survival analysis in a Midwestern State," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    2. Snyder, Elizabeth H. & Lawrence, C. Nicole & Dodge, Kenneth A., 2012. "The impact of system of care support in adherence to wraparound principles in Child and Family Teams in child welfare in North Carolina," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 639-647.
    3. Seekamp, Sarah & Ey, Lesley-Anne & Wright, Shelley & Herbert, James & Tsiros, Margarita D, 2022. "Service delivery goals and underlying interprofessional practices: A scoping review to support interprofessional collaboration in the field of child protection," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    4. Eldred, Lindsey M. & Gifford, Elizabeth J., 2016. "Empirical evidence on legal levers aimed at addressing child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 11-19.
    5. Janczewski, Colleen E. & Mersky, Joshua P., 2016. "What's so different about differential response? A multilevel and longitudinal analysis of child neglect investigations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 123-132.
    6. Choi, Mi Jin & Kim, Jangmin & Roper, Ayla & LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Boyd, Reiko, 2021. "Racial disparities in assignment to alternative response," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    7. valentine, kylie & Katz, Ilan, 2015. "How early is early intervention and who should get it? Contested meanings in determining thresholds for intervention," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 121-127.
    8. Mersky, Joshua P. & Janczewski, Colleen, 2013. "Adult well-being of foster care alumni: Comparisons to other child welfare recipients and a non-child welfare sample in a high-risk, urban setting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 367-376.
    9. Kum, Hye-Chung & Joy Stewart, C. & Rose, Roderick A. & Duncan, Dean F., 2015. "Using big data for evidence based governance in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 127-136.

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