Illinois Child Welfare Differential Response Approach Reduces Per Case Cost By 74% In Illinois

A comparison of case costs after the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) implemented the Differential Response (DR) approach to substantiated child maltreatment reports found that DR cases had average costs of $725.29 per case and that cases handled with an investigation response had average costs of $2,737.79 per case, a difference of 74%. DR is based on a family risk assessment of the child's safety at home and the risk of maltreatment; family strengthening services can be offered without the child entering state custody. In the traditional investigation response, family strengthening services are . . .