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Fiscal Reforms

Fiscal reforms in child welfare generally focus on both improving outcomes for children and families and controlling the costs of services. They may involve innovations in how available funds are spent (including flexible funding and blended funding strategies) or privatization of services (including the use of managed care models). Resources include State and local examples.

• Privatization

Financing Child Welfare: What Policies Best Protect Children? (PDF - 173 KB)
Bevan, Gwyn, & Hutson (2004)
Transcript of an audio conference on how child welfare financing can be reformed to create policies to better protect children.

The Foster Care Straitjacket: Innovation, Federal Financing, and Accountability in State Foster Care Reform (PDF - 386 KB)
Fostering Results & Children and Family Research Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2004)
Highlights the inability to spend Federal dollars earmarked for foster care on services and strategies that could help provide children safer, more stable, and permanent homes.

Hearing on Flexible Funding for Child Welfare: Statement Before the Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, the U.S. House of Representatives
Geen (2000)
View Abstract
Testimony about the implications of child welfare research on proposals to create a flexible funding structure.

Medicaid and Financing of Health Care for Children in Foster Care: Findings From a National Survey: A Policy Brief (PDF - 247 KB)
Inkelas & Halfon
Health Services for Children in Foster Care, 1, 2002
Presents a national overview of financing policies and their impact from the perspectives of State Medicaid, child welfare, and mental health agencies.

State Innovations in Child Welfare Financing (PDF - 545 KB)
Westat & Chapin Hall Center for Children (2002)
Describes how States are implementing fiscal reforms to contain costs or improve performance in child welfare systems and identifies implementation issues..

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State and local examples

Better Results for Kids Issue Paper: Financing and Contracting Options and Considerations
McCullough (2003)
View Abstract
Findings from national research for use by Iowa's Stakeholder Panel in the development of the legislatively mandated child welfare reform.

Moving Away From Crisis? Alternatives in Financing Child Welfare Services in Connecticut (PDF - 436 KB)
Geballe & Langer (2005)
Explores some of the financing options available to Connecticut to create a more cost-effective, child- and family-supportive child welfare system.

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Updated on November 19, 2008