Welfare Reform on the Web (June 2000): Child Welfare - Overseas

ADOPTION TRENDS IN KANSAS: MANAGING OUTCOMES OR MANAGING CARE?

T. P. McDonald et al

Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 22, 2000, p.161-174

Two major reforms have occurred in the child welfare system in Kansas over the past three years that were expected to impact on the adoption process for children in state custody. Both the Kellogg Families for Kids Initiative and move to a privatised managed care system of adoption services sought to reduce the number of children in state custody and the time they spent waiting for permanent homes. Analyses indicate a trends under both reforms compared to the system's operation prior to either initiative.

ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES: EMERGING ISSUES AND CONCERNS

D. J. English et al

Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 24, 2000, p. 375-388

Increased calls in the US to "do something" about child protective services (CPS) have resulted in the development of community-based alternative responses to some forms of abuse or neglect. Article reports on the outcome of 1263 "low" risk CPS referrals diverted to a community-based alternative response system. Results suggest that the risk level and severity of some referrals to alternative response systems may be inappropriately high. The rates of re-referral were similar for families who did or did not engage in assessment services, and were highest for families where domestic violence was present.

MANAGED CARE AND CHILD WELFARE: CHALLENGES TO IMPLENTATION

R. A. Embry, P. Buddenhagen and S. Bolles

Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 22, 2000, p. 93-116

Article is based on a review of the managed care evaluation literature and information gathered from child welfare administrators in California. Argues that there is limited support for the wholesale adoption of managed care principles in child welfare and numerous reasons for concern including a lack of understanding of the essential features of managed care by public service administrators, limited child welfare risk assessment capabilities, the pervasive role of the courts in placement decisions, very limited child welfare management system capabilities, and the coercive nature of child welfare services.

MANAGED CARE AND PRIVATIZATION: RESULTS OF A NATIONAL SURVEY

C. McCullough and B. Schmitt

Children and Youth Services Review, vol. 22, 2000, p. 117-130

Article provides a summary description of 47 initiatives in 29 US jurisdictions that include management or finance changes consistent with managed care or privatisation models.

THE STATE OF THE UNION

D. Bartlett

Community Care, no. 1311, 2000, p. 24

Describes programmes in Arizona which help socially excluded young fathers with parenting/lifeskills training, employment and education issues and mentoring. The aim is to reduce the numbers of single mothers on welfare by helping fathers to get a job so that they can start paying maintenance.