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.
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement
Provides information and resources to help States and Tribes implement performance-based contracting. Audio files and handouts from past teleconferences (located under "Learn") provide guidance in areas such as Enhancing Performance in Contracts.
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. (PDF - 190 KB)
Governing for Children and Families: Improving Outcomes for Children Through Performance-Based Contracting [Webcast]
Chapin Hall Center for Children (2008)
Discusses strategies to overcome policy, practice, and implementation challenges involved in shifting incentives for service providers to match the needs of children and families with their service array.
State and local examples
Performance-Based Contracting for Human Services: Does It Work?
Martin
In Administration in Social Work, 29, 2005
View Abstract
Examines the approaches of six State human service agencies and concludes that providers are meeting the goal of focusing more on performance.
Private Delivery: Center Studies Privatization of Child Welfare Services (including, Privatization of the Case Management Function in Child Welfare) (PDF - 1,956 KB)
Collins-Camargo
In State News (The Council of State Governments), 50(1), 2007
Describes the National Quality Improvement Center on the Privatization of Child Welfare Services (QIC PCW), and its work to increase knowledge about the use of public/private partnerships in child welfare service delivery through research and demonstration grants to test innovate strategies.
Privatization of Child Welfare Services: Lessons Learned from Experienced States
Flaherty, Collins-Camargo, & Lee
In Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education, 11(1), (2008)
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.