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Journal Article

Citation

McNellan CR, Gibbs DJ, Knobel AS, Putnam-Hornstein E. Child Abuse Negl. 2022; 134: e105887.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105887

PMID

36152529

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Child protective services (CPS) agencies use risk assessment tools to augment decision making about alleged child maltreatment. Under the Family First Prevention Services Act, states and tribes are permitted to claim federal reimbursement for prevention services for children at imminent risk of entering foster care based on assessment tools and protocols. In this context, existing tools are being repurposed. It is critical to reassess the evidence supporting their use.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to synthesize the evidence pertaining to validity and reliability of specific risk assessment tools designed for CPS agencies, summarize how this work has been carried out, and review the conceptual dimensions of risk included in each tool. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: We included United States-based, quantitative evaluations of risk assessment tools published between 1990 and May 2021.

METHODS: We carried out a scoping review using a protocol in alignment with PRISMA-ScR. We used a multiphase selective screening approach with at least two screeners.

RESULTS: In total, 25 studies met inclusion criteria. Overall, research about the validity and reliability of risk assessment tools is dated and heterogeneous in methodology. The conceptualizations of risk assessment and the operationalization of risk also varied widely. There was a general dearth of evidence that supported the use of tools across demographic subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS: Heterogeneity of studies assessing tool validity and reliability suggests a lack of agreement about how to assess tools and makes it difficult to interpret findings across studies. Agencies should be cautious about overreliance on tools for which evidence is limited.


Language: en

Keywords

Risk assessment; Child maltreatment; Child protection; Standardized tools

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