Leveraging Qualified Residential Treatment Program requirements to facilitate data driven decision-making: a guide for child welfare administrators

ABSTRACT

Family First Prevention Services Act has adjusted the reimbursement process for youth placed in residential facilities where only those placed in facilities designated as Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP) will be eligible for reimbursement. Addressed is a component of QRTP requirements, the assessment of the child being placed with age-appropriate, evidence-based, validated, functional assessment tool. Little guidance is available for system administrators and stakeholders as to what to consider and how to select an appropriate tool; thus, this paper discusses trauma instrument attributes and advocates for the use of data collection that aids decision-making and has the potential to improve services.

KEYWORDS:

• Qualified Residential Treatment Program
• family first prevention services act
• data driven decision-making
• program evaluation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Programs and residential facilities providing the following services are exempt from meeting QRTP requirements for reimbursement: supervised independent living; prenatal, post-partum, or parenting supports; and high-quality residential care for children who are or at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking (Public Consulting Group, 2020).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Julian Quiros

Julian Quiros is a PhD student at the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his BA in Sociology from the University of Pittsburgh and MS in Social Policy and Data Analytics from the School of Social Policy and Practice. Most recently, he worked at the City of Philadelphia Department of Human Services as a Data and Evaluation Associate in their Performance Management and Technology Division. Duties ranged from producing reports for DHS leadership, the public, and stakeholders to IT data integration.

OrcID: 0000-0002-8918-0057

Phyllis Solomon

Phyllis Solomon, Ph. D is the Kenneth L. M. Pray Chair, Professor of Social Work and Associate Dean for Research in School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania. Her primary research and practice focus is on psychiatric rehabilitation/mental health services, other service systems, including behavioral health, criminal justice and child welfare, and service interventions for persons with severe mental illness and their families.

OrcID: 0000-0002-0880-8966