What Are Some Considerations When Bringing Evidence-Based Interventions To Scale?

Child protection agencies nationwide are faced with the complex task of determining when children can be safely cared for at home, often with services and supports, and when they may need to be removed from their parents to ensure their safety. This Q & A interview with David Reed of the Indiana Department of Child Services examines how Indiana has used the state’s Title IV-E waiver since 2012 to offer a selection of evidence-based interventions to keep families safely together or reunify them. Beyond the waiver, the federal Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 supports evidence-informed interventions to help children safely remain at home by meeting families’ service and treatment needs. The interview also notes changes in the contracting process with child protection service providers and how these providers may also teach families how to access resources and apply for TANF and other entitlements under the state’s per-diem model.