In 2002, CRC conducted further analysis to assess the impact of Michigan’s new foster care case management system. Initial evaluation results indicated that SDM significantly expedited permanency for children across the types of permanency achieved. A key question was whether children returned home in pilot counties reentered foster care at a higher rate. If SDM led to the premature return home of children, we would expect a greater proportion of children returned home by pilot agencies to reenter placement than children returned home by comparison agencies. If the reentry rate is similar for pilot and comparison agencies, we can safely assume that SDM does not result in children’s premature return home. The addendum answers this question.
