MORE OF WHAT - ISSUES RAISED BY THE FORT-BRAGG STUDY

The sobering findings of the Fort Bragg study illustrate why ambitious demonstration projects must be combined with objective outcome evalua tions. The study does suggest that ''more is not always better'' (L. B ickman, 1996), but more of what? Little is known about the specific in terventions that were combined to form the Fort Bragg system of care, so the study does nor really reveal what failed or what needs to be ch anged. Moreover there is no evidence that the specific treatments used had any empirical support. Combining and systematizing various treatm ents mag, not produce improved outcomes if the treatments are not effe ctive in the first place. Costly demonstration programs that combine u ntested treatments may be a poor investment. A better strategy may be to develop and test an array of well-documented treatments for an army of child and family problems, creating the building blocks needed for effective systems of care in the future.