Child protection professionals make critical decisions throughout the life of a case that have a significant impact on children and families. Child protection workers may have to evaluate or make decisions related to risk, safety, case opening, substantiation, removal, and reunification. When a case of alleged child maltreatment is received, it is up to the child protection agency to determine whether maltreatment was substantiated, assess risk, and decide on an intervention using offered services. This page provides information on tools to enhance decision-making during this process. Resources include State and local examples.
Better Decisions for Better Results
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2019)
Presents information on how two county agencies applied a quality improvement process to improve their decision-making processes and achieve better outcomes for children and families.
Decision-Making in Child Welfare for Improved Safety Outcomes (PDF - 240 KB)
Capacity Building Center for States (2017)
Reviews current research around decision science and safety decision-making practices in child welfare to raise awareness regarding decision-making challenges and strategies for improved safety outcomes. This brief provides an overview of relevant child welfare safety assessment tools and decision-making theories and frameworks to expand agency knowledge on safety decision-making issues.
How Can We Ensure That Separating Children From Their Families Is an Intervention of Last Resort?
Casey Family Programs (2020)
Discusses findings from a research study on child protection removal decisions that finds they are based on inconsistent standards and are often applied disproportionately, resulting in unnecessary trauma for children and families. The article argues for revisiting the standards for removal.
Making Decisions in Child Welfare (PDF - 522 KB)
North Carolina Division of Social Services and the Family and Children’s Resource Program (2017)
Practice Notes, 22(2)
Provides information on available support for professionals who are looking for new ways to ensure they make fair and well-informed decisions that will have the best outcomes for the children and families.
Risk Assessment and Decision Making in Child Protective Services: Predictive Risk Modeling in Context (PDF - 292 KB)
Cuccara-Alamin, Foust, Vaithianathan, & Putnam-Hornstein (2017)
Children and Youth Services Review, 79
Explains that improving initial triage and assessment decisions will enable caseworkers to focus on engaging families and providing needed services.
Showcase: Safety Outcomes and Decision-Making Approaches (PDF - 198 KB)
Capacity Building Center for States (2017)
Provides jurisdictions with information for states on models and approaches for targeting safety outcomes.
State and local examples
Examination of Using Structured Decision Making and Predictive Analytics in Assessing Safety and Risk in Child Welfare (PDF - 622 KB)
Los Angeles County Office of Child Protection (2017)
Presents the findings of a report on the current use and identified strengths and weaknesses of the Structured Decision Making tool in Los Angeles County. The report concludes with recommendations for training, improved oversight and monitoring, and policy revisions.
Safety Methodology Reference Guide (PDF - 2,301 KB)
Florida Department of Children and Families (2014)
Provides essential knowledge and skills for the decision-making methodology in the State of Florida, including examples of threat assessments, information collecting protocols, and more.