family preservation

[bill higgins <bill_higginsus@xxxxxxxxx>]

I thank you for your responses.  I also received one
response that was not posted to the larger group.  It
is pasted to the end of this message.  I deleted the
name for confidentiality.

Dear Bill,

I hope my response won't sound sarcastic...it is based
on what I've seen in a family preservation program I
have some experience with.
Unfortunately, research does not have as much of an
impact on practice as many (including myself) would
hope.  The program I know continues, despite the
research, because it is still receiving funding. The
funding agency does not require the program to conduct
any sort of evaluation of its efficacy, and apparently
is unaware of, or not convinced by, the research you
refer to.  So, things go on as they have for years,
within the program.  To be fair, those in the program
know of the research.  But, they are convinced that
their program is different from those evaluated in the
research.  They have seen individual families benefit
from their intervention and are convinced that it is
beneficial.  They also believe that no evaluation
could capture the essence of what they do and the
benefits they provide to families.  Since the funder
doesn't require any evaluation, there's no pressure on
them to do it.

Of course, this is only one program, in one location. 
But, perhaps similar scenarios occur in other locations???

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