Cost-Effectiveness of Teaching Family Programs for Delinquents

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Abstract
During the past decade the Teaching Family Model (TFM) of delinquency treatment has evolved into a national network of community-based, behaviorally oriented group homes. A longitudinal summative evaluation of 26 TFM homes and 25 comparison programs from the same or neighboring communities was mounted in 1975 and the results of a 5- year cost-effectiveness study are presented. Using a variation of output value analysis, TFM homes were found to be 7% less expensive to operate on a per diem basis and cost approximately 20% less per client. Cost-effectiveness was better for TFM programs on measures of school performance, but no different on deviant behavior or social/personality outcomes either at discharge or up to 3 years later.