TY - JOUR
T1 - The decision to investigate
T2 - Child protection practice in 12 local agencies
AU - Wells, Susan J.
AU - Fluke, John D.
AU - Brown, C. Hendricks
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was made possible by Grant No. 90-CA-1265 from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, Administration for Children Youth and Families, Office of Human Development Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. Its contents should not be construed as official policy of the American Bar Association, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect or any other agency of the Federal Government. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Susan J. Wells, Social and Behavioral Research Center, Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 USA.
PY - 1995
Y1 - 1995
N2 - This study examined child protective service (CPS) screening practices in twelve sites from five states, and sought to identify factors predictive of the decision to investigate a report. The authors found that few contacts with CPS agencies were determined clearly inappropriate for CPS investigation; 70% of the reports entailed specific allegations of maltreatment. Fifty- three percent of all reports were investigated. Of those concerning specific allegations of maltreatment, only 66% were investigated. When injury was alleged, reports were investigated 70% of the time, regardless of the specificity of the allegation. Study findings suggest that the most important problem for CPS intake and investigation is not that workers are over-investigating bogus reports. In this sample, very few clearly inappropriate reports were made, and of these, very few were investigated. Rather, with reports alleging specific types of maltreatment, intake was used to "screen out" reports which might be appropriate for further CPS investigation.
AB - This study examined child protective service (CPS) screening practices in twelve sites from five states, and sought to identify factors predictive of the decision to investigate a report. The authors found that few contacts with CPS agencies were determined clearly inappropriate for CPS investigation; 70% of the reports entailed specific allegations of maltreatment. Fifty- three percent of all reports were investigated. Of those concerning specific allegations of maltreatment, only 66% were investigated. When injury was alleged, reports were investigated 70% of the time, regardless of the specificity of the allegation. Study findings suggest that the most important problem for CPS intake and investigation is not that workers are over-investigating bogus reports. In this sample, very few clearly inappropriate reports were made, and of these, very few were investigated. Rather, with reports alleging specific types of maltreatment, intake was used to "screen out" reports which might be appropriate for further CPS investigation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0009176880&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0009176880&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0190-7409(95)00037-D
DO - 10.1016/0190-7409(95)00037-D
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0009176880
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 17
SP - 523
EP - 546
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
IS - 4
ER -