Child protective screening decisions: An analysis of predictive factors

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Abstract
Child welfare workers strive to balance the competing values of families' right to privacy and children's right to protection. Charges of overintruslon and underprotection have created controversy. Current legislation mandates the reporting of certain cases for investigation, which has contributed to an Increase in reports that Is overwhelming child protection agencies. Some agencies have Instituted policies and procedures to screen reports to eliminate the Investigation of reports likely to be unfounded. The study reported in this article Investigated variables that predict screening decisions of child protective social workers. The data Indicate that for the study sample, the best predictors of the screening decision were allegations of sexual abuse, nonperpetrating parent as source of report, an Interaction of alleged harm with receiving office, an Interaction of race with receiving office, case status, allegations of physical abuse, and allegations of neglect. Future research on the outcomes of different screening criteria Is recommended, and social workers are warned that Increased gatekeeplng should not occur without corresponding policies that support the nurturance of children.

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