An Economic Evaluation of Service Utilization and Outcomes

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An Economic Evaluation of Service
Utilization and Outcomes
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• Our History
• Merrymount has been lending a helping hand to
  London families for more than 130 years
• Thousands of families come through our doors
  every year

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Our History

• Merrymount was created in 1874 by the Womens
  Christian Association and was called the
  Protestant Home for Orphans, Aged and Friendless

• Over the years, the centre changed its focus
  from residential care for children to supportive
  programs for families in crisis and transition

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This study is an extension of a history that
continues to inspire us.
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The Study
Over the next three years Merrymount will be
conducting an extensive research study that will
determine if the provision of services and
supports to families identified as at risk (but
not in need of Child Welfare protection) produces
both positive outcomes for these families and an
economic benefit to our community.
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The Need
The economic impact of the services at the
Merrymount Childrens Centre are critical
elements that we have long wanted to demonstrate
on an economic scale. However until recently, no
measurement model existed. Both funders and
donors are asking us to demonstrate how the work
we do with families is having an economic impact
on our community.
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Meet the Research Team

• Dr. Paul Whitehead
• Mr. Graham Clyne
• Dr. Gina Browne
• Merrymount Childrens Centre
• Childrens Aid Society of London and Middlesex

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What we hope to achieve!
Research Questions 1. Do families that are
referred to Merrymounts intensive programs by
the Childrens Aid Society see a measurable
improvement in their outcomes? How do these
outcomes compare to families who receive basic
services? 2. Do families that are referred to
Merrymount programs by the Childrens Aid Society
see a measurable reduction in their use of other
emergency services, programs and income supports
after 9 months and after 18 months of service?
How does their service utilization across all
sectors compare with families who do not
participate in Merrymounts intensive programs
and services?
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What we hope to achieve! (continued)
3. Do families that are referred to Merrymount by
Childrens Aid Society see a change in their
patterns of service utilization compared to those
who do not utilize Merrymounts intensive
programs and services? (Is there a shift from
crisis, emergency and remedial services to
supportive, capacity building, recreational
community based supports?) 4. What is the net
economic impact of supporting families referred
to Merrymounts intensive programs and services
by the Childrens Aid Society compared to those
who receive basic services? (The total cost of
assisting families measured against the changes
in their utilization of all other social service,
private and public expenditures?)
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What we hope to achieve! (continued)
Taken together, the research questions will
provide a good sense of how effective-and how
cost effective-prevention early intervention,
support and capacity building programs are for
families and children at risk.
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How will it work The Methodology

• The study was launched on November 1, 2006 and
  will be complete on November
  1, 2009.
• The evaluation design will be a pre and post test
  design with random assignment to an experimental
  group that will receive intensive services and a
  control group that will receive services that are
  less intensive.
• The protocol of referral has been developed with
  the Childrens Aid Society
• There will be 400 subjects 200 for each group

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How will it work The Methodology (continued)

• Assessment Tools
• Parental self-confidence
• Parental capacity
• Parental stress
• Parental depression
• Health and social service utilization
• Childrens functional ability
• Measurement of cost
• BCFPI
• CAFAS

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Key Donors to date

• Ministry of Community and Social Services
• The Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child
  and Youth
  Mental Health at CHEO
• The Sisters of St. Josephs
• RBC Foundation
• Childrens Aid Society of London and Middlesex
• Merrymount Childrens Centre

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Thank You! Check out www.merrymount.on.ca
for more information!