Community-based programs for children at risk: The case of budget flexibility in Departments of Social Services in Israel

The article describes, analyzes and evaluates the outcomes of the "Toward the Community" program, which was initiated by the Israel Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services. The main goal of the program was to grant more autonomy to the directors of social service departments, and allow them more flexibility in utilizing budgets to develop community-based programs for children at risk as an alternative to out-of-home placement. The findings revealed that even though the directors had not been involved in the decisions relating to the new policy, they reported higher levels of involvement in program implementation. They also reported a greater sense of autonomy in managing their agencies, as well as increased involvement of their staff and entities outside of the agency in development of new services for children at risk. The findings showed a continuous rise in the development of community-based programs, and in referral of children - particularly from educational residential settings - to programs in the community. Nonetheless, the increase in the number of children residing in therapeutic boarding schools cannot be ignored. The implications of the findings for policy aimed at increasing budget flexibility and enhancing the autonomy and powers of the directors are presented and discussed.