The Cost-Effectiveness of Home Visiting Versus Group Services In Early Intervention

Abstract

This paper examines the cost-effectiveness of providing early intervention services to individual children and families in their own homes versus providing services to small groups of children and families at an early intervention program site. The analysis estimates the amount of change in adaptive behavior, mother-child interaction, and parenting stress associated with each service for subgroups of children that vary by age at entry into early intervention and by severity of disability. The results suggest that the service identified as more cost-effective varied by subgroup and outcome measure. The findings are reviewed in light of the strengths and weaknesses of the methodology used. Critical issues for future research are discussed.