Subsidized Guardianship Waiver Demonstrations: Key Evaluation Findings Elliott Graham, Ph.D. James Bell Associates Childrens Bureau Webinar: Applying Lessons Learned from States with SG Waiver Demonstrations September 15, 2010

Question: Does the availability of SG increase net permanency? Question: Does the availability of SG increase net permanency? Answer: Yes. Three randomized clinical trials of SG waivers that most closely approximate the Federal GAP (IL, TN & WI) found that SG increases net permanence. Answer: Yes. Three randomized clinical trials of SG waivers that most closely approximate the Federal GAP (IL, TN & WI) found that SG increases net permanence. Net Permanency Rates by State Child Permanency Percentage Illinois Wisconsin Tennessee

Question: Does SG supplant reunification and/or adoption? Question: Does SG supplant reunification and/or adoption? Answer: No for reunification; Yes (to some extent) for adoption. Answer: No for reunification; Yes (to some extent) for adoption. Reunification Rates by State Adoption Rates by State Child Permanency (cont.) Percentage Illinois Wisconsin Tennessee Illinois Wisconsin Tennessee

Question: Does the availability of SG decrease time in out-of-home placement? Question: Does the availability of SG decrease time in out-of-home placement? Answer: Yes. Answer: Yes. Wisconsin: Exp. group children spent a median of 492 days in care compared with 1,090 days for control group children. Wisconsin: Exp. group children spent a median of 492 days in care compared with 1,090 days for control group children. Illinois: Children ever assigned to exp. group spent an avg. of 269 fewer days in care than control group children. Illinois: Children ever assigned to exp. group spent an avg. of 269 fewer days in care than control group children. Tennessee: Exp. group children spent an avg. of 11.5 fewer weeks in care than control group children. Tennessee: Exp. group children spent an avg. of 11.5 fewer weeks in care than control group children. Oregon: Time to SG was significantly shorter than time to adoption (about 26 months vs. 35 months). Oregon: Time to SG was significantly shorter than time to adoption (about 26 months vs. 35 months). Placement Duration

Question: Are children who exit to SG as safe as those who exit to reunification or adoption? Question: Are children who exit to SG as safe as those who exit to reunification or adoption? Answer: Yes. Answer: Yes. Illinois: Original waiver found no significant differences in substantiated maltreatment reports between children exiting to SG and adoption (3% vs. 3.9%). These findings were corroborated in Phase II (Older Wards) waiver. Illinois: Original waiver found no significant differences in substantiated maltreatment reports between children exiting to SG and adoption (3% vs. 3.9%). These findings were corroborated in Phase II (Older Wards) waiver. Wisconsin: Among children exiting to SG or adoption, those in the exp. group were statistically no more likely to have a subsequent report than those in the control group (2.9% vs. 3.3%). No reports in either group were substantiated. Wisconsin: Among children exiting to SG or adoption, those in the exp. group were statistically no more likely to have a subsequent report than those in the control group (2.9% vs. 3.3%). No reports in either group were substantiated. Oregon: 2% of children exiting to SG had a substantiated maltreatment report compared with 16% of reunified children. Oregon: 2% of children exiting to SG had a substantiated maltreatment report compared with 16% of reunified children. Child Safety

Question: Are children who exit to SG more likely to re-enter foster care? Question: Are children who exit to SG more likely to re-enter foster care? Answer: No. Answer: No. Illinois: 1.2% of permanent placements in the exp. group of the States first waiver disrupted vs. 1.1% of placements in the control group. Illinois: 1.2% of permanent placements in the exp. group of the States first waiver disrupted vs. 1.1% of placements in the control group. Wisconsin: Only one child who exited to SG from the experimental group re-entered care. Wisconsin: Only one child who exited to SG from the experimental group re-entered care. Oregon: Only 4.3% of children re-entered foster care 24 months after exiting to SG compared with 14.7% of reunified children. Oregon: Only 4.3% of children re-entered foster care 24 months after exiting to SG compared with 14.7% of reunified children. Tennessee: 3% of exp. group children re-entered care compared with 1.5% of control group children (an insignificant difference). Tennessee: 3% of exp. group children re-entered care compared with 1.5% of control group children (an insignificant difference). Foster Care Re-Entry

Question: Does SG result in cost savings? Question: Does SG result in cost savings? Answer: Yes, both with respect to foster care maintenance and administrative costs: Answer: Yes, both with respect to foster care maintenance and administrative costs: Illinois: Admin. costs were only $49.38/child in SG compared with $1,842.36/child in foster care. Cumulative admin. savings amounted to $54.4 million by end of States first waiver. Illinois: Admin. costs were only $49.38/child in SG compared with $1,842.36/child in foster care. Cumulative admin. savings amounted to $54.4 million by end of States first waiver. Wisconsin: Avg. foster care maintenance savings were $2,681 per experimental group case. Wisconsin: Avg. foster care maintenance savings were $2,681 per experimental group case. Montana: Savings of over $32/month in IV-E costs and $128/month in total costs (IV-E and other funding sources combined) per exp. group child. Montana: Savings of over $32/month in IV-E costs and $128/month in total costs (IV-E and other funding sources combined) per exp. group child. Tennessee: In absence of SG State estimates it would have spent >$1 million extra in combined foster care maintenance and admin. overhead. Tennessee: In absence of SG State estimates it would have spent >$1 million extra in combined foster care maintenance and admin. overhead. Cost Savings