Three year follow-up study of families referred to a family intervention team – what are the outcomes that make a difference?

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the long-term outcomes for 15 young people on a range of indicators including school success, involvement with other agencies and the perceived effectiveness by the family.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured telephone interviews were used to gather a range of both quantitative and qualitative data. Interviews were with a parent of the referred child (n=15).

Findings

In all, 87 per cent of care-givers interviewed rated the service they had received as helpful 85 per cent reported these changes to be maintained at the three year follow-up. Rate of school exclusion was only 7 per cent and 0 per cent of families went on to have involvement with statutory social services or the youth justice system.

Research limitations/implications

This is a small-scale study offering a small sample (n=15) of families previously referred to this Family Intervention Team, at a three-year post-intervention period. More routine longitudinal information needs to be gathered for a more robust indication on long-term outcomes.

Practical implications

The impact this study will have on the team involved will be in its recommendations for further long-term outcome studies; but also in feeding back to the service the significant key messages from those interviewed.

Social implications

Contributing to a wider understanding of the long-term benefits of early intervention.

Originality/value

This paper offers some new though small statistical data in the growing pool of statistics that are indicating positive outcomes for early intervention and family intervention projects.

Citation

Salter, L. and Williams, J. (2014), "Three year follow-up study of families referred to a family intervention team – what are the outcomes that make a difference?", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-09-2013-0058