Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Part II: Topic Specific Resources: Economics of Early Intervention

• Benefit-Cost Analysis for Early Childhood Interventions. Workshop Summary
  (http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2009/Benefit-Cost-Analysis-for-Early-Childhood-Interventions.aspx)
  National Research Council and Institute of Medicine
  These analyses of benefits and costs provide a guide to the best ways to spend scarce resources for early childhood programs. This report summarizes a workshop held by the Board on Children, Youth, and Families on March 4–5, 2009, to explore ways to strengthen benefit-cost analysis so it can be used to support effective policy decisions.
• Cost-Effective Investments in Children
  (http://www.brookings.edu/views/papers/200701isaacs.pdf [PDF format])
  Washington, DC: Brookings Institution.
  This paper identifies four areas of investment in children where there is sufficient evidence of positive outcomes and sound benefit-cost ratios to merit expanded Federal funding. Target areas are early-childhood-education programs, home-visiting programs to promote sound prenatal care and the healthy development of infants and toddlers, school reform, and programs that reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy.
• Early Childhood Interventions: Proven Results, Future Promises
  (http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG341.pdf [PDF format])
  RAND Corporation
  This objective review synthesizes current research that addresses the potential for interventions of various forms in early childhood to improve outcomes for participating children and their families. It reviews research on over a dozen national early intervention programs.
• Early Detection of Developmental and Behavioral Problems
  (http://www.ch.missouri.edu/Education/STUDENTSYLLABUS/Articles/early%20detection.pdf [PDF format])
  Pediatrics in Review
  This article highlights the value of early intervention and makes recommendations for making screening more available, particularly in pediatric settings.
• Fact Sheet: Enriching Children, Enriching the Nation
  (http://www.nea.org/home/18190.htm)
  National Education Association
  In this research study, economist Robert G. Lynch examines the costs and benefits of high-quality prekindergarten programs and their positive impact over time on Federal and state budgets, crime, and the achievement and earnings of children and adults.
• The Productivity Argument for Investing in Young Children
  (http://jenni.uchicago.edu/papers/Heckman_Masterov_RAE_2007_v29_n3.pdf [PDF format])
  James J. Heckman and Dimitriy V. Masterov
  This article presents the case for investing more in young American children who grow up in disadvantaged environments.