Evaluation as a benefit: stories from the frontlineSocial Benefit Bonds

What is a Social Benefit Bond (SBB)?

More than 50 per cent (over $1 billion) of FACS investment in services is done via NGOs

Children and young people in OOHC risen from 9,273 as at 30 June 2002 to 20,022 at 30 June 2013

Why out-of-home care?

20,022 children and young people in care at 30 June 2015

NSW has the highest rate of removals and highest rates of children in care

Many children remain in care until 18 years of age

Research – poor outcomes for many children who grow up in care

Aims of NSW SBB

Scope of the evaluation

Process evaluation

Outcomes evaluation

Outcomes comparison

Economic & financial

evaluation

Alignment with the future

The permanent placement principles set out the order of preference for the permanent placement of a child or young person as:

• family preservation• family restoration• guardianship relative & kinship care• open adoption (for non-Aboriginal children)• parental responsibility to the Minister.

About Newpin

• evidence-based family restoration and preservation model

• breaking intergenerational cycles of abuse and • key points of difference with other crisis

interventions • funded by UnitingCare for 12 years• SBB enables expansion contingent on realisation

of outcomes.

Newpin SBB results

In the first two years of the SBB Newpin has:• restored 66 children in OOHC to their families• prevented children from 35 families entering

OOHC • restoration rate = 62% (vs 25% counterfactual)• return to investors = 8.9%• expansion of Newpin to the Central Coast• 2 additional centres will open in the next 12

months (ahead of schedule).

Evaluation and evolution

Explicit focus on outcomes and evaluation required significant program evolution with respect to:• program culture• the UnitingCare organisation• practice.

There is value in reflecting on:• the context for change and how change was

realised and supported.

Supporting change

• began discussions around the rationale for change and piloted change early

• introduced new reporting mechanisms within a realistic timescale

• provided training and ongoing support for assessment and data collection

• established good clinical supervision• advanced support for trauma-informed practice.

The joy of innovation

The Urbis evaluation of the Newpin bond has documented practice innovation and adaptation:• working with both partners• working with school-aged siblings• home visiting post-restoration• father’s outreach workers• improved information sharing and more regular

case conferences with FACS.

Agenda setting!

The Newpin SBB suggests important ways that government and NGOs can collaborate to improve program results:• data exchange• program evaluation data shared with providers at

site level• build sector capacity to interpret data and expect

continuous improvement• explore outcomes-based funding (requires

outcomes data)