Innovation in the Context of Austerity The Social Research Unit at Dartington Who we are • Small research-based charity of around 20 staff, based in Dartington, Devon and London • Our mission: 1. Contributing to an understanding of what works in improving children and young people’s outcomes. 2. Helping people – central and local government, consumers of public services, trusts and foundations, service providers – apply that evidence in the real world. • There is a big gap between evidence and its useful application – which we seek to fill. Ideas for Innovation • • • • • • De-commission ineffective practice Serve young people who most need help Embed effective practice Community engagement & collective efficacy Portfolios of evidence based programmes Consistent good practice De-commission ineffective practice 1. Stop clearly harmful interventions Evidence-based services deliver better outcomes and value for consumers Consumers of public services benefit from services that make better use of evidence about what works and what provides best value. But few public services make use of high-quality evidence in a systematic way (except, of course, medical interventions) EVIDENCE BETTER OUTCOMES FINANCIAL BENEFIT Life Skills Training Reduces offending with effect size 0.19 and drug use with effect size 0.11 £1 invested generates £4.96 for taxpayer and £1.70 for beneficiary Success for All Improves attainment with effect size 0.10 £1 invested generates £7.88 for taxpayer and £16.07 for beneficiary Reading Recovery Improves attainment with effect size 0.48 £1 invested saves £3.72 for taxpayers and £7.59 for beneficiary Scared Straight Increases offending with effect size 0.11 £1 invested costs taxpayers £11.54 De-commission ineffective practice 1. Stop clearly harmful interventions 2. Reflect on potentially harmful interventions 3. Test the benefits of doing less Serve young people who most need help 4. Reduce support for the worried well 5. Increase prevention for ‘unknown’ cases Total 9-18 population of Scottish LA: n = 15,409 53% of children with no problems (n = 8,166) 41% of children with a few problems (n = 6,318) 6% of children with many problems (n = 925) Total 9-18 population of Scottish LA: n = 15,409 53% of children with no problems (n = 8,166) 41% of children with a few problems (n = 6,318) 38% 12% 50% 6% of children with many problems (n = 925) 7% of children involved in at least one system (n = 1,079) 38% of system-involved have no problems (5% of total ‘no problem’ pop.) 50% of system-involved have have a few (9% of total ‘few problems’ pop.) 12% of system-involved have have many (14% of total ‘many problems’ pop.) 86% of those with many problems have no service contact Embed effective practice 6. Cognitive behavioural therapy 7. Motivational interviewing 8. Contingency management 9. Communities that Care and Evidence2Success Other programs ($1,300,000) Mental health programs ($460,000) Atlanta public high schools ($9,000,000) After school programs ($570,000) Child care services ($870,000) Child protective Services ($3,600,000) Public health($260,000) Foster care ($350,000) Medicaid & Peachcare ($5,700,000) Title 1 ($1,200,000) Pre-K & Headstart ($2,600,000) Work assistance ($1,740,000) Total cost: $44,750,000 Atlanta public elementary and middle schools ($17,100,000) Pittsburg Atlanta Community engagement & collective efficacy 9. Communities that Care & Evidence2Success 10.Felton Earls and Collective Efficacy Community engagement & collective efficacy 9. Communities that Care & Evidence2Success 10.Felton Earls and Collective Efficacy Community engagement & collective efficacy 9. Communities that Care & Evidence2Success 10.Felton Earls and Collective Efficacy Community engagement & collective efficacy 9. Communities that Care & Evidence2Success 10.Felton Earls and Collective Efficacy Portfolios of evidence based programmes 11. Washington experiment Overview +100% Cost-Benefit? Prevention Bottom Line Crime Rates and Taxpayer Costs: 1980 to 2005 Percent Change Since 1980 +80% Taxpayer Costs Are Up (Inflation-Adjusted Criminal Justice Dollars Per Household) +60% $$ +40% +20% 0% Crime $$ -20% $ $$$$ $ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $$ $ ? In 2005, crime rates were 26% lower than they were in 1980. Crime Rates Are Down 1985 1990 In 1980, taxpayers spent $589 per household on the criminal justice system. Today they spend $1,125: a 91% increase. ? -40% 1980 ? 1995 2000 2005 2010 ? 2015 All Data are for Washington State: 1980 to 2005 17 of 24 Portfolios of evidence based programmes 11. Washington experiment 12. Project Re-direct Re-invest 13. One-per cent for prevention Consistent good practice 14. Employ the right people and do the right things well 18-Month Unadjusted Major Recidivism Percentage FFT Results 63 55 47 47 43 42 34 33 33 31 28 26 26 23 23 22 20 18 14 17 17 17 17 14 18 14 12 11 8 0 C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Poor Fidelity 22 Control Group (N=313) Individual Therapists (N=387) Group Mean (Average) M 8 9 10 11 12 13 M 14 15 16 17 18 M 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 M Low Fidelity Good Fidelity High Fidelity