NCJ Number
68402
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 59 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 356-364
Date Published
1980
Length
9 pages
Annotation
VARIABLES AFFECTING SOCIAL WORKERS' DECISONS TO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO ABUSED OR NEGLECTED CHILDREN WERE STUDIED AS PART OF AN EVALUATION OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROJECT (MAPS) OF CHICAGO.
Abstract
MAPS, WHICH PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES (E.G., INVESTIGATION, CASEWORK COUNSELING, TESTING AND EVALUATION, FOSTER CARE, DAY CARE, HOMEMAKER SERVICE, TRANSPORTATION AND ASSISTANCE IN GETTING FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING, MEDICAL CARE, AND FINANCIAL AID) WAS EVALUATED FOR SERVICE EFFECTIVENESS BY THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES. THE EVALUATION INCLUDED IDENTIFICATION OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING CASEWORKERS' DECISIONS AS TO WHICH CHILD ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT CASES WARRANTED PROVISION OF THE AGENCY'S SERVICES. THE FINDINGS OF THE EVALUATION INDICATED BOTH SUBJECTIVE JUDGMENTS AND OBJECTIVE BEHAVIORAL FACTORS ON THE PART OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS INVOLVED. IT WAS FOUND THAT CASEWORKERS BASE THEIR AFFIRMATIVE OR NEGATIVE DECISION ON VARIABLES SUCH AS REFERRAL SOURCES, INCLUDING HOSPITALS, PHYSICIANS, POLICE, PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY, OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND NONMANDATED REPORTERS; OBSERVABLE CONDITION OF THE CHILD OR CHILDREN IN THE CASE; AND PARENTS' BEHAVIOR (THEIR COOPERATIVENESS OR LACK THEREOF). CASEWORKERS' DECISIONMAKING WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE MORE DIFFICULT IN CASES INVOLVING INVOLUNTARY CLIENTS WITH MIDDLE-CLASS STATUS. THE STUDY CONCLUDES THAT THE CASEWORKERS' DECISIONMAKING PROCESSES ARE SURROUNDED BY THE CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY THEIR SETTING, MANDATE, AND RESOURCES AND THAT THIS MAY LEAD TO CONCENTRATION OF SERVICES ON THE MORE ACCESSIBLE CLIENTS RATHER THAN ON THOSE MOST IN NEED OF SERVICES. A SHORT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF FIVE REFERENCES IS APPENDED.