What’s the Return on Investment?

Summary

In this brief, child welfare leaders and agencies learn about an approach, called placement day analysis, that calculates the financial impact of diverting or shortening child welfare placements. Equipped with this information, decision makers can identify the right interventions and program changes — those that are good for both children and lean agency budgets — to invest in moving forward.

Table of Contents

• A Better Fiscal Measure for Child Welfare
• A Seven-Step Approach
• Conclusion

Key Takeaway

An approach rooted in a solid, data-driven technical process? Yes, please.

Placement day analysis pinpoints real savings generated by avoiding child welfare placements or reducing lengths of stay. As a result, this approach can be used to uncover fiscal trends; compare and forecast costs as new programs are considered; and track expected versus actual costs and savings.