USING GROUP MODEL BUILDING TO INFORM WELFARE REFORM POLICY-MAKING IN NEW YORK STATE: A CRITICAL LOOK †

Building system dynamics models directly with groups requires skillful combination of problem analysis and group facilitation. This paper provides an overview of an applied research project – using this growing and innovative approach– to model and analyze a complex social issue in the public sector. It provides a synopsis of the design and products of this intervention involving three counties in New York State. It reports how GMB was used to inform welfare reform policymaking, drawing upon the perspectives and knowledge of key welfare service providers. This paper is focused upon the final product of this intervention –a system dynamics model used to experiment with management strategies and to explore scenarios. It addresses the policy aspect of the research, and is focused upon documenting the model elicited, built, simulated, evaluated, tested and extensively used throughout this intervention. The analysis is organized around three policy questions. The conclusion is a summary of the findings, and a discussion of the limitations of the analysis in terms of policy evaluation for the purpose of system’s redesign.

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