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Decision Making in Child Protective Services: A Risky Business?

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  • Michael J. Camasso
  • Radha Jagannathan

Abstract

Child Protective Services (CPS) in the United States has received a torrent of criticism from politicians, the media, child advocate groups, and the general public for a perceived propensity to make decisions that are detrimental to children and families. This perception has resulted in numerous lawsuits and court takeovers of CPS in 35 states, and calls for profound restructuring in other states. A widely prescribed remedy for decision errors and faulty judgments is an improvement of risk assessment strategies that enhance hazard evaluation through an improved understanding of threat potentials and exposure likelihoods. We examine the reliability and validity problems that continue to plague current CPS risk assessment and discuss actions that can be taken in the field, including the use of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve technology to improve the predictive validity of risk assessment strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael J. Camasso & Radha Jagannathan, 2013. "Decision Making in Child Protective Services: A Risky Business?," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(9), pages 1636-1649, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:33:y:2013:i:9:p:1636-1649
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01931.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Camasso, Michael J. & Jagannathan, Radha, 2019. "Conceptualizing and testing the vicious cycle in child protective services: The critical role played by child maltreatment fatalities," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 178-189.
    2. Cheryl Regehr & Guy Enosh & Emily Bosk, 2021. "An Ecological Model for High-Risk Professional Decision-Making in Mental Health: International Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-11, July.

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