Public child welfare agencies often contract with private providers to provide services, a process known as privatization. A number of States have privatized all or most services. Resources in this section provide information and tools to help agencies measure outcomes and ensure the quality of contracted services, including performance-based contracting. State and local examples are included.
Ensuring Quality in Contracted Child Welfare Services
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (2008)
Provides information on monitoring and assuring quality of contracted services within the context of the agency's overall quality assurance/improvement system.
State and local examples
Performance-Based Contracting for Human Services: Does It Work?
Martin (2005)
In Administration in Social Work, 29
View Abstract
Examines the approaches of six State human service agencies and concludes that providers are meeting the goal of focusing more on performance.
Privatization of Child Welfare Services: Lessons Learned from Experienced States
Flaherty, Collins-Camargo, & Lee (2008)
In Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 11(1)
View Abstract
Reports shared themes described by public, private, and community partners, including challenges in defining performance standards and in establishing balanced contract monitoring and quality assurance systems.