Background: This study aimed to examine the short- and long term (cost-) effectiveness of Family Group Conferencing (FGC) compared to care as usual (CAU) in terms of improved child safety, empowerment and social support. Methods: A subgroup of a larger randomized controlled trial, comprising 69 families in child welfare (experimental group: n = 46; control group: n = 23), was included. Results: No additional effects of FGC on child safety, social support and only short-term positive effects on empowerment were found. There were no differences in costs between FGC and CAU. The chance for FGC to be cost-effective was small. For families who refused FGC, the FGC approach was more cost-effective than CAU, whereas it was less cost-effective for families that prepared or completed FGC. Conclusions: Overall, FGC is not (cost-)effective in improving child safety, empowerment and social support, but cost-effectiveness varies at different levels of FGC-completion. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register number NTR4320 . Registered 17 December 2013.
CITATION STYLE
Dijkstra, S., Creemers, H. E., Van Steensel, F. J. A., Dekovic, M., Stams, G. J. J. M., & Asscher, J. J. (2018). Cost-effectiveness of Family Group Conferencing in child welfare: a controlled study. BMC Public Health, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5770-5
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