Robert Barnoski - August 2002

The 1997 Washington State Legislature established a process to implement "research based" programs in Washington State's juvenile courts. The legislature has subsequently funded four specific programs. The state Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration oversees the funding process and provides statewide training to ensure faithful adherence to each program's design. The Washington State Institute for Public Policy was directed to evaluate the programs. This report briefly describes preliminary results (12-month follow-up period) for one of the programs, Functional Family Therapy (FFT). When the FFT model is delivered competently, the program reduces felony recidivism and saves more money than it costs. The key to cost-effectiveness, however, is an accurate means to distinguish between competent and incompetent therapists, and the report makes recommendations on this finding.

Steve Lerch - August 2002

Physicians and researchers have identified several diseases and health conditions for which timely and effective outpatient health care services, such as physician office visits, can often prevent hospitalizations. This study examines whether these “avoidable hospitalizations” are a significant issue for the Washington State Medicaid program and, if so, whether it is possible to reduce them and in turn reduce state health care expenditures.

Steve Aos - July 2002

The Washington Legislature directed the Institute to evaluate the changes made during the 1997 session to the state's juvenile sentencing laws. One policy change in 1997 gave juvenile court judges more discretion to use county detention facilities for juvenile offenders not sentenced to the state. This report examines whether the use of detention affects juvenile crime rates. Cost-benefit estimates are also provided.

Robert Barnoski - July 2002

This report presents preliminary recidivism information on a mentoring program run by Washington State's Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration in the Seattle area.

Robert Barnoski - July 2002

This report presents preliminary recidivism information on Dialectic Behavior Therapy, a program run by Washington State's Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration. The program features comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment for individuals with complex and difficult-to-treat mental disorders.

Robert Barnoski - June 2002

The 1996 Washington State Legislature appropriated $2.35 million to 12 juvenile courts for early intervention programs targeting youth placed on probation for the first time and considered at high risk to re-offend. At the request of the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy evaluated the program. The primary outcome measure is whether there is a reduction in subsequent court adjudications for youth in the program. This report also examines the level of program success necessary for the state's investment to be cost-effective.

Barbara McLain, Marna Miller - June 2002

The 2001 Legislature directed the Institute to examine options for revising the state's funding formula for the Learning Assistance Program (LAP).  The report examines how state and federal dollars to assist struggling students (through state LAP and federal Title I programs) are allocated and spent by school districts.  It also analyzes the relationship between LAP, Title I, and student performance as measured by state test scores.  Three sample alternative funding formulas for LAP are offered for consideration. 

Barbara McLain, Annie Pennucci - June 2002

The 2001 Washington State Legislature directed the Institute to examine educational delivery models for the Washington School for the Deaf.  This report covers issues influencing deaf education; characteristics of deaf and hard of hearing students in Washington; current models of providing education and services for deaf and hard of hearing students, including a comparison of models based on learning environment and cost; and possible alternative roles for WSD in education and service delivery. A literature review written by Susan Easterbrooks of Georgia State University is available above as an appendix. A companion study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee is available at the JLARC website: http://www.leg.wa.gov/JLARC/AuditAndStudyReports/2002/Pages/02-8.aspx.

Steve Lerch - June 2002

Tobacco use is a major cause of preventable illness and death.  In Washington State, nearly one-third of low-income adults, many of whom receive of state-funded medical care, are smokers.  To assess the feasibility of offering smoking cessation services through state medical assistance programs, this report examines the potential costs and benefits of providing such services to adults enrolled in the state’s Medicaid program. 

Jim Mayfield, Annie Pennucci, Courtney Lyon - June 2002

Kinship care is the full-time care of children by relatives, either informally (without the involvement of public child welfare agencies) or formally (when public child welfare agencies are involved in placing children with relatives). An estimated 32,000 children, or one out of 50 children in Washington State, are in kinship care. Based on surveys and interviews of relative caregivers and the experiences of other states, this report describes the prevalence, challenges, and needs of kinship caregivers in Washington State and provides policy options to address those needs. Also available are two technical appendices providing detail on the challenges and needs of kinship caregivers: (1) Kinship Care Needs Assessment: Focus Group Results. Prepared by the Social and Economic Sciences Research Center, Washington State University. (2) Washington State Relative Caregivers Survey: Final Analysis.