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Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research

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01-11-2018 | Original Article

Economic Impact of Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect

Authors: Alex R. Dopp, Cindy M. Schaeffer, Cynthia Cupit Swenson, Jennifer S. Powell

Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research | Issue 6/2018

Abstract

This study evaluated the economics of Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect (MST-CAN) by applying the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) cost-benefit model to data from a randomized effectiveness trial with 86 families (Swenson et al. in JFP 24:497–507, 2010b). The net benefit of MST-CAN, versus enhanced outpatient treatment, was $26,655 per family at 16 months post-baseline. Stated differently, every dollar spent on MST-CAN recovered $3.31 in savings to participants, taxpayers, and society at large. Policymakers and public service agencies should consider these findings when making investments into interventions for high-need families involved with child protective services.

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Title: Economic Impact of Multisystemic Therapy for Child Abuse and Neglect
Authors: Alex R. Dopp
Cindy M. Schaeffer
Cynthia Cupit Swenson
Jennifer S. Powell
Publication date: 01-11-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research / Issue 6/2018
Print ISSN: 0894-587X
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3289
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-018-0870-1

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