Costs to implement an effective transition-to-parenthood program for couples: Analysis of the Family Foundations program

• We assess the costs to implement a universal intervention for couples transitioning to parenthood using a 6-step analytic process.
• Overall per-family costs are found to be moderate, suggesting the intervention may be cost-effective given studies showing effects in multiple outcome domains.
• Costs vary by category and across time, suggesting that more efficient use of resources could occur with a longer-term program.
• Using a sensitivity analysis, we determine the range of costs that would be expected for implementing this intervention in a similar setting.

The transition to parenthood involves many stressors that can have implications for the couple relationship as well as the developmental environment of the child. Scholars and policymakers have recognized the potential for interventions that can help couples navigate these stressors to improve parenting and coparenting strategies. Such evidence-based programs are scarcely available, however, and little is known about the resources necessary to carry out these programs. This study examines the costs and resources necessary to implement Family Foundations, a program that addresses the multifaceted issues facing first-time parents through a series of pre- and post-natal classes. Costs were determined using a 6-step analytic process and are based on the first implementation of the program carried out through a five-year demonstration project. This assessment demonstrates how overall costs change across years as new cohorts of families are introduced, and how cost breakdowns differ by category as needs shift from training group leaders to sustaining program services. Information from this cost analysis helps clarify how the program could be made more efficient in subsequent implementations. We also consider how results may be used in future research examining economic benefits of participation in the program.