Factors that determine decision making in child protection investigations: A review of the literature

Abstract

The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on factors that determine decision making in child protection investigations. More specifically, to investigate the existing research on the 4 factors that are considered fundamental for child protection decision making: case characteristics, caseworker characteristics, organizational characteristics, and external factors. The results indicated that child welfare decisions to investigate a case and/or to implement services are influenced by characteristics of the case, the social worker, and the organization, in addition to external factors. These elements work together to determine the outcome of an investigation. There are some substantial differences between various countries connected to disparities in child welfare legislation, support apparatuses, culture, ideology, and socio‐economic factors. It is methodologically challenging to design studies that capture all possible variables associated with case factors, social workers, and organizational factors. However, multilevel analyses of the types of variables that are most significant to case outcome conclude that caseworker assessments corresponded to organizational factors. Furthermore, decisions are better explained by characteristics of the child welfare organization than by characteristics of the social worker.

A critique of virtual court for intimate partner abuse victims in child welfare cases: Another layer of disadvantage for female victims?

“…The choice of interventions in child removal decisions can vary from one CPS investigator to the next (Bhatti‐Sinclair & Sutcliffe, 2018; Hughes & Chau, 2013), with some investigators more likely to gravitate to child removal (Doyle, 2007). There are a few predictors of the decision‐making of workers to investigate or remove children, including: case factors (child race/ethnicity, gender, age, and socio‐economic status) but not the child's point of view; parental substance abuse; CPS organizational factors; and investigator characteristics – experience, stress level and personality (Lauritzen et al, 2018).…”

How to Train a (Bad) Algorithmic Caseworker: A Quantitative Deconstruction of Risk Assessments in Child-Welfare

“…This indicates a potential vector for bias as these predictors are singly scored by caseworkers and are influenced by caseworkers' own impression of the family. As illustrated by prior studies, a caseworker's opinion of risk may account for most of the variance in whether children are removed from their homes, even when it comes to quantitative tools [14,25,31]. For example, a caseworker who is struggling to engage with a family may feel that the caretakers are not taking appropriate steps to protect their child by accepting the worker's assistance, or that the caretakers do not have the skills or disposition required to nurture their child due to their rejection of interventions.…”

“…However, worker bias may be embedded in algorithms themselves, offering a veneer of standardization that disguises the degree to which algorithmic risk scores still represent potentially faulty risk assessment. In some cases, a worker's opinion of risk may account for most of the variance in whether children are removed from their homes, even when it comes to quantitative tools [14,25]. For a variety of systemic reasons, child-welfare caseworkers nationally have an average of less than two-years of work experience in their positions [12].…”

Factors associated with the decision to investigate child protective services referrals: A systematic review

“…This latter review identified only three studies, all of which were poor quality, and highlighted a general lack of robust research to inform screening practices. Another systematic review by Lauritzen, Vis, and Fossum (2018) summarized the factors associated with multiple CPS decisions (i.e., decisions to investigate, dismiss, substantiate, and refer families for services) from studies published since 2005 that employed a broad array of methodologies. Over the past 35 years, several studies have been undertaken to build knowledge to inform technical approaches to decision‐making at the point of CPS intake.…”