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Evaluating risk assessment implementation in child protection: issues for consideration.
H J Doueck1, D E Bronson, M Levine
1School of Social Work, University of Buffalo, NY 14260.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|September 1, 1992
Summary
Child Protective Services (CPS) increasingly use risk assessment models. Evaluating their impact on casework practice requires both process and outcome measures to understand implementation fidelity and service delivery effects.
Area of Science:
- Social Work
- Public Policy
- Child Welfare Research
Background:
- Systematic risk assessment models are increasingly adopted by Child Protective Services (CPS).
- Limited understanding exists regarding the actual impact of these models on casework practice.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of risk assessment implementation in child welfare is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine key considerations for agencies evaluating the impact of risk assessment models on service delivery.
- To propose a comprehensive evaluation approach for risk assessment implementation in CPS.
- To assess the influence of risk assessment tools on casework processes and outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Recommends a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative and quantitative measures.
- Advocates for a dual evaluation strategy focusing on both process and outcome.
- Emphasizes assessing implementation fidelity and impact on casework.
Main Results:
- A combined process and outcome evaluation can reveal the extent of intended implementation.
- This approach provides detailed insights into how risk assessment affects casework.
- Findings highlight the importance of understanding implementation nuances in real-world settings.
Conclusions:
- Agencies should employ robust evaluation methods to understand risk assessment model impacts.
- Mixed-methods evaluations are essential for assessing implementation fidelity and service delivery.
- Caution is advised when interpreting evaluation results from field implementations of risk assessment models.