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Florida

Demonstration Type:	Flexible Funding
Approved:	March 31, 2006
Implemented:	October 1, 2006
Expected Completion:	September 30, 2011
Interim Evaluation Report Expected:	May 31, 2009
Final Evaluation Report Expected:	March 31, 2012

Target Population

Florida’s flexible funding demonstration targets (1) title IV-E-eligible and non-IV-E-eligible children ages 0-18 who are currently receiving in-home child welfare services or who are in out-of-home placement at the start of project implementation, and (2) all families entering the State’s child welfare system with a report of alleged child maltreatment.

Jurisdiction

Florida is implementing its flexible funding waiver demonstration statewide.

Intervention

Florida’s flexible funding demonstration includes the following components:

• Capped Allocation of Title IV-E Funds and Contracts with Community-Based Lead Agencies:  Florida is receiving a capped allocation of title IV-E funds to support community-based services and activities that promote child safety, prevent out-of-home placement, and expedite permanency.  The State distributes these funds either through payment for activities performed directly by the State or through contracts with local governmental entities or private and non-profit Community-Based Care Lead Agencies.  The Lead Agencies are responsible for providing and coordinating services, programs, and supports funded using waiver dollars in their respective service areas in the State.
  

• Improved Array of Community-Based Services:  The State and its partnering Lead Agencies are using title IV-E funds to expand the array of community-based services and programs available to eligible children and families.  Examples of services and programs that may be expanded under the demonstration include (1) intensive early intervention services; (2) one-time payments for goods or services that reduce short-term family stressors and help divert children from out-of-home placement (e.g., payments for housing, child care); (3) enhanced training for child welfare staff and supervisors in service delivery, case management, and supervisory practices; (4) improved needs assessment practices that take into account the unique circumstances and characteristics of children and families; and (5) long-term supports for families to prevent placement recidivism.

In addition, existing community-based programs in Florida may be expanded under the demonstration, including Healthy Families Florida, a community-based voluntary home visiting program.

Evaluation Design

Florida’s evaluation includes process and outcome components, as well as a cost analysis. The State is utilizing a time series design for the evaluation of its demonstration to analyze historical changes in child welfare outcomes.  Longitudinal changes in child welfare outcomes are analyzed by measuring the progress of successive “cohorts” of children entering the State’s child welfare system toward achievement of the demonstration’s primary goals.  Evaluation cohorts are defined and identified using data available in the State’s child welfare information system.  To measure the historical progress of each evaluation cohort, the State established a baseline for each outcome measure prior to implementation of the demonstration and is comparing this baseline to subsequent achievement benchmarks at selected time intervals.

Process Evaluation

Florida’s evaluation includes interim and final process analyses that describe how demonstration services were implemented and identify how these differed from services available prior to the demonstration.  In particular, the process evaluation compares the availability, accessibility, intensity, and appropriateness of community-based services prior to and following implementation of the demonstration. Data collection methods utilized by the State for the process evaluation include focus groups, surveys, and interviews, involving lead agency directors, court personnel, caregivers, and child welfare staff and administrators.

Outcome Evaluation

For each successive cohort of children who are currently in or who enter the child welfare system, the State’s outcome evaluation is tracking longitudinal changes in key safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes.  Major outcome measures of interest include the following indicators:

• Number and proportion of children exiting foster care within 12 months of removal from the home

• Number and proportion of children remaining in foster care 12 months after removal from the home

• Mean/median length of stay in foster care

• Number and proportion of children adopted within 24 months of out-of-home placement

All data used in the outcome evaluation analyses will be abstracted from HomeSafenet (HSn), the State’s child welfare information system.  In addition, comparison data from national databases, such as The National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), will be incorporated into the outcomes analysis.

Cost Study

Florida’s cost study examines the costs of key elements of waiver-funded services received by children and families and compares these costs with those of traditional services and foster care placements prior to the start of the demonstration.  Specifically, the cost analysis examines the use of key funding sources, including relevant Federal sources such as titles IV-A, IV-B, IV-E and XIX of the Social Security Act, as well as State and local funds.  Where feasible, the State is conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis by examining the relationship between the demonstration’s costs and outcomes.

Evaluation Findings

Initial evaluation findings are pending continued implementation of Florida’s demonstration.

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