Economic Evaluation of a Community Based Early Intervention Program Implemented In a Disadvantaged Urban Area of Queensland

Children raised in socio-economically disadvantaged regions have increased probabilities of school failure, delinquency, drug abuse, and juvenile crime. The Pathways to Prevention project attempts to reduce these risks in a disadvantaged community through the implementation of child-focused (school-based) and family-focused (community-based) interventions. Preliminary results from an economic evaluation of the Pathways project are reported. Project costs are compared with the costs of a number of remedial interventions. It is not argued that preventative interventions should be favoured over remedial interventions. Rather, investing more in prevention may help alleviate the pressure on the overburdened remedial sector, resulting in potential cost-savings.