Evaluation as a benefit: stories from the frontline Social 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)