%0 Journal Article %J Child Welfare %D 2013 %T Safety and risk assessment frameworks: overview and implications for child maltreatment fatalities. %A Pecora, Peter J %A Chahine, Zeinab %A Graham, J Christopher %K Child %K Child Abuse %K Child Welfare %K Decision Making %K Homicide %K Humans %K Models, Theoretical %K Risk Assessment %K Safety %K Social Work %X

This article highlights current models used in child protection to assess safety and risk, and discusses implications for child maltreatment fatalities. The authors advance that current risk and safety practice approaches were not designed to accurately estimate the likelihood of low base-rate phenomena and have not been empirically tested in their ability to predict or prevent severe or fatal child maltreatment. They advance that, regardless of the ultimate effectiveness of safety and risk tools, competent assessment and decision-making in child protection depend on sound professional judgment and a comprehensive systemic approach that transcends the use of specific tools.

%B Child Welfare %V 92 %P 143-60 %8 2013 %G eng %N 2 %0 Journal Article %J Child Welfare %D 2012 %T Strengthening families and communities to prevent child abuse and neglect: lessons from the Los Angeles Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project. %A McCroskey, Jacquelyn %A Pecora, Peter J %A Franke, Todd %A Christie, Christina A %A Lorthridge, Jaymie %K Child %K Child Abuse %K Child Health Services %K Child Welfare %K Community Networks %K Family %K Humans %K Los Angeles %K Preventive Health Services %K Program Evaluation %X

The Prevention Initiative Demonstration Project, funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), is a community-specific strategy delivered through eight regional networks designed to address the full spectrum of community-based prevention. This article summarizes a strong and meaningful pattern of improvements found in the second year evaluation for three groups of families--those living in high-risk communities but not involved with DCFS, those being investigated by DCFS for possible child maltreatment, and those with open DCFS cases.

%B Child Welfare %V 91 %P 39-60 %8 2012 %G eng %N 2