title: Benefit-Cost Analysis of a Randomized Evaluation of Communities That Care: Monetizing Intervention Effects on the Initiation of Delinquency and Substance Use Through Grade 12.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system is a cost-beneficial intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were from a longitudinal panel of 4,407 youth participating in a randomized controlled trial including 24 towns in 7 states, matched in pairs within state and randomly assigned to condition. Significant differences favoring intervention youth in sustained abstinence from delinquency, alcohol use, and tobacco use through Grade 12 were monetized and compared to economic investment in CTC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CTC was estimated to produce $4,477 in benefits per youth (discounted 2011 dollars). It cost $556 per youth to implement CTC for 5 years. The net present benefit was $3,920. The benefit-cost ratio was $8.22 per dollar invested. The internal rate of return was 21%. Risk that investment would exceed benefits was minimal. Investment was expected to be recouped within 9 years. Sensitivity analyses in which effects were halved yielded positive cost-beneficial results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTC is a cost-beneficial, community-based approach to preventing initiation of delinquency, alcohol use, and tobacco use. CTC is estimated to generate economic benefits that exceed implementation costs when disseminated with fidelity in communities.
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Kuklinski
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology, Sociology, and Law, University of Florida.
authors.forename: Abigail A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fagan
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: J David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Briney
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Catalano
keywords: Benefit-Cost Analysis; Communities That Care; Delinquency Prevention; Substance Use Prevention; Youth Development