Better information for the referrals that need it most
Advanced analytics help child welfare agencies identify referrals and investigations involving children at elevated risk, so hotline workers and investigative supervisors can focus additional attention where it may matter most.
Hotline workers face difficult screening decisions every day
Child welfare hotlines receive large volumes of calls and referrals. Call takers must make difficult decisions under time pressure, while backlogs of referrals awaiting non-urgent review can make it harder to know where to focus attention first. Relevant family history may be scattered across records. SDA uses existing administrative data to give hotline workers an additional view of risk, helping them identify referrals that may warrant closer consideration without replacing professional judgment or statutory screening rules.
Existing referral and family history
The model draws on information already recorded in child welfare systems. No extra frontline data entry.
Additional risk information
Advanced analytics surface patterns that may not be apparent from the current referral alone.
Informed screening decisions
Hotline staff use the additional information to support screening and prioritization decisions.
Investigation supervisors face difficult decisions every day
Supervisors oversee many active investigations, but some children face a substantially higher risk of serious harm. Knowing which investigations warrant an additional consultation or closer review can be difficult when relevant history is spread across case records. SDA’s Investigation Supervision tool helps teams focus enhanced support on the investigations that may need it most.
Existing investigation history
The tool draws on information already held in the agency’s case management system, without additional worker data entry.
Identify higher-risk investigations
Risk stratification flags a targeted group of investigations for enhanced supervisory attention.
Enhanced supervisory support
Supervisors decide what additional review, consultation or support is appropriate. The tool does not make child protection decisions.
Supporting different stages of child welfare practice
SDA tools support child welfare agencies in Los Angeles County, Idaho, and counties in Colorado and Pennsylvania. SDA’s team also developed the original Allegheny Family Screening Tool.
Hotline screening
Support screeners with additional risk information from administrative records.
Investigation supervision
Help supervisors identify investigations that may benefit from enhanced oversight.
Ongoing quality assurance
Explore ways to identify practice gaps while cases are still active.
Could your agency make better-informed screening and supervision decisions?
Talk with Social Data Analytics about how existing administrative data could support hotline screening, investigation supervision and child safety in your jurisdiction.
Contact SDA →