Citation

English DJ, Wingard T, Marshall D, Orme M, Orme A. Child Abuse Negl. 2000; 24(3): 375-388.

Affiliation

Children's Administration, Office of Children's Administration Research, Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Olympia 98504-5701, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10739080

Abstract

PROBLEM: Increased calls to "do something" about child protective services (CPS) have resulted in proposals or new "paradigms" for services to at-risk or abusive families. These new paradigms call for the reform or revamping of CPS through the development of a community-based alternative response to some reports of child abuse and/or neglect. METHOD: This article reports on outcomes for 1,263 "low" risk CPS referrals diverted to a community-based alternative response system. Data on child, family, and case characteristics and services provided are presented as well as outcomes associated with re-referral and placement post service provision. RESULTS: The risk level and severity of some of the referrals to alternative response systems seems inappropriately high. The rates of re-referral were similar for families who did or did not engage in assessment services, and were highest for families where domestic violence was present. CONCLUSIONS: Criteria for diversion to community alternatives to CPS must be clearly articulated and applied. Both CPS and alternative response system workers must have the skills required to address a family's recognition of the problem and degree of motivation to engage in problem resolution, and to understand their relationship to continued risk of CA/N.

Language: en