Program Evaluation and Research

HOMEBUILDERS' INTERNAL EVALUATION:

Success in avoiding placement
For families with at least one child at imminent risk of placement, HOMEBUILDERS success in avoiding placement at 12 months following the initiation of service has varied from 73% to 91%, depending on the definition of placement, client population, geographic location, program maturity, and other factors.

Several studies carried out over the last 2 decades have demonstrated that HOMEBUILDERS does impact family functioning in a positive way. In Washington State, the HOMEBUILDERS Mental Health Study (Kinney, 1980), showed that children served by the HOMEBUILDERS program increased their scores in 2 widely accepted measures of family functioning: the Global Assessment Scale (Endicott) and the Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach). Parents' ratings of children's functioning have also been measured.

In a study of the HOMEBUILDERS program in Washington State and of similar programs in Utah, families who successfully avoided placement showed statistically significant and measurable positive gains at the end of the provision of services. In the same study, even families in which placement was not avoided showed improvement in areas that could be beneficial to any children remaining in the home, or to currently placed children when they returned home (Fraser, et al., 1988).

Supported by:

United Way Children's Charities of America ICA CFC

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