[ Main page of Report | Contents of Report ]
This chapter describes the overall operation of CPS agencies. Topics addressed in the chapter include national estimates of the number of agencies, staffing patterns, worker assignments and workload, and the role of the CPS agencies in providing followup services. Subsequent chapters discuss each of the core functions of screening and intake, investigation, and alternative response, in greater detail.
Data in this chapter are presented in terms of agencies and the number of children in the population living in the jurisdictions of these agencies. These children were not necessarily served by the CPS agency, but would be if the need arose.
Nationally, all jurisdictions are covered by local agencies that conduct screening and intake and investigation. A new finding was that 64 percent of agencies provided an alternative response and that more than one-half of the Nation's children (54%) live in a jurisdiction with both an investigation response and an alternative response (Table 2-1).
| Functions | Agency | Number of children residing in areas served by agencies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate ( C.I. ) ** |
Percent * | Estimate ( C.I. ) |
Percent | |
| Screening/intake at local agency | 2,590 (2,390-2,790) |
99% | 71,382,000 (68,714,000-74,049,000) |
98% |
| Investigation | 2,600 (2,400-2,800) |
100% | 72,913,000 (72,334,000-73,492,000) |
100% |
| Alternative response | 1,660 (1,460-1,860) |
64% | 39,280,000 (24,111,000-54,450,000) |
54% |
| * Percentages are not additive because agencies
were included in each applicable row (category). ** The 95 percent confidence interval (C.I.) indicates that, if the study were to be repeated with the same methodology 100 times, 95 of the replications would produce an estimate within the interval. |
||||
[Go To Contents]
While there is considerable variation in the size of CPS agencies, the national average per agency was 26 staff including 17 social workers or caseworkers, with 3 supervisory staff (Table 2-2). Additional analyses indicate that one-quarter quarter of agencies had approximately 4 or fewer social workers and another one-quarter had 15 or more staff. Other staff, which added another four to five staff per agency, included support staff, case aides, specialist workers and mangers. Less than one Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employee per category (e.g. caseworker, supervisor, etc.) worked part time, on average, across agencies.
| Worker category | Average number of full-time workersa | Average number of part-time workersb | Average number of staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Social workers or caseworkers | 16 (8-24) |
<1 (<1-1) |
17 (8-26) |
| Supervisors | 3 (2-5) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
3 (2-5) |
| Other worker category | 2 (<1-4) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
2 (<1-4) |
| 2nd other worker category | 2 (0-4) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
2 (<1-4) |
| 3rd other worker category | <1 (<1-2) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-2) |
| Total | 24 (11-37) |
1 (<1-2) |
26 (12-39) |
| a Full time refers to the time spent on CPS
activities. b Part time refers to the time spent on CPS activities. |
|||
Workers on the staff of CPS agencies are mostly comprised of individuals with bachelor's degrees. Nearly one-half of all supervisors have an advanced degree, with a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) . Agencies averaged 3 staff with less than a Bachelor's degree, 13 staff with a bachelor's degree, 3 with a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree, and 1 employee (or staff person) with some other type of advanced degree. The majority of workers, 11 on average per agency, had a bachelor's degree, and 2 on average per agency had an M.S.W. degree. For supervisors, each agency on average had one supervisor with a Bachelor's degree and one with an M.S.W. In the other worker category, agencies averaged one person on staff with less than a bachelor's degree (Table 2-3).
| Worker category | Average number with less than bachelor's degree | Average number with only bachelor's degree | Average number with M.S.W. | Average number with other advanced degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Social workers or caseworkers | <1 (<1-<1) |
11 (6-16) |
2 (<1-3) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
| Supervisors | <1 (<1-<1) |
1 (<1-1) |
1 (1-2) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
| Other worker category | 1 (<1-3) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
| 2nd other worker category | 1 (0-2) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
| 3rd other worker category | <1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
| Total Staff | 3 (<1-6) |
13 (<1-18) |
3 (1-6) |
1 (1-2) |
It is estimated that only a small number of staff positions were vacant among CPS local agencies at the time of the survey (Table 2-4). On average, each agency had 0.6 vacancies, of which 0.4 were social workers or caseworkers. More than 75 percent of agencies indicated that they had no staff vacancies.
| Position worker category | Average number of staff |
|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Social workers or caseworkers | 0.4 (<1-<1) |
| Supervisors | 0.0 (<1-<1) |
| Other worker category | 0.0 (<1-<1) |
| 2nd other worker category | 0.1 (<1-<1) |
| 3rd other worker category | 0.0 (<1-<1) |
| Total | 0.6 (0-<1) |
[Go To Contents]
Many agencies elect to have different workers or other staff specialize in providing the primary CPS functions; screening/intake and investigation. When an alternative response is provided, some agencies also have specialist staff perform this function. Nationally, a slight majority of agencies are specialized to at least some degree with respect to these functions.
With respect to the intake function, on average four social workers or caseworkers were exclusively assigned to the function and an additional four social workers or caseworkers were assigned to the function, but had other responsibilities. Less than one supervisor was exclusively assigned to the screening and intake function, and one supervisor was assigned who had additional responsibilities. Less than one other type of staff was assigned. In addition, two part-time staff were assigned across all categories of staff (Table 2-5).
| Position | Average number of full- time workersa | Average number of part- time workersb | Average number of Staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Workers who only conducted screening/intake | 3 (<1-6) |
<1 (<1-1) |
4 (<1-7) |
| Workers who conducted screening/intake in addition to other responsibilities | 3 (3-4) |
<1 (<1-1) |
4 (3-5) |
| Supervisors who only supervised screening/intake | <1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-1) |
| Supervisors who supervised screening/intake in addition to other responsibilities | 1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
1 (1-2) |
| Other staff assigned to screening/intake | <1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-1) |
| Total | 9 (6-13) |
2 (<1-3) |
11 (8-15) |
| a Full time refers to the time spent on CPS activities
b Part time refers to the time spent on CPS activities |
|||
Slightly more workers specialize in providing investigations, compared to workers who are assigned also to other tasks in addition to investigation. An average of four workers were exclusively assigned to the investigation function and three were assigned to other responsibilities. The average number of social workers or caseworkers who were exclusively assigned to the investigation function was five with three additional staff who were also assigned other responsibilities. For supervisors, the average number exclusively assigned to investigation was less than one, with one additional supervisor assigned who had other responsibilities. Less than one other type of staff person, on average, was assigned to this function (Table 2-6).
| Position | Average number of full- time workersa | Average number of part- time workersb | Average number of staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Workers who only conducted investigations | 4 (3-6) |
<1 (<1-1) |
5 (3-6) |
| Workers who conducted investigations in addition to other responsibilities | 3 (2-4) |
<1 (<1-1) |
3 (3-4) |
| Supervisors who only supervised investigation | <1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-1) |
| Supervisors who supervised investigation in addition to other responsibilities | 1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
1 (1-1) |
| Other staff assigned to investigation | <1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-1) |
| Total | 10 (8-12) |
1 (<1-2) |
11 (9-13) |
| a Full time refers to the time spent on CPS activities
b Part time refers to the time spent on CPS activities |
|||
Most agencies indicate that in organizing the staffing across screening/intake and investigation functions, they have chosen to have staff specialize in these functions to at least some degree. Table 2-7 illustrates that combined 51 percent of agencies either have staff who exclusively perform one function only, or usually provide only one and temporarily are sometimes assigned to the other function. Of these agencies, 33 percent were specialized across these functions; and some agencies (19%) had workers switched between screening/intake and investigations on an as-needed basis. For 42 percent of agencies nationwide, staff routinely combined the screening/intake and investigation functions, and a small number of agencies (5%) employed some other process.
Compared to the number of agencies that specialize, almost all children nationwide were be living in under the jurisdiction s that were served by agencies whose workers are specialist providers of screening/intake or investigation functions. It was estimated that 57 percent of children were residing in areas served by a gencies where workers are exclusively providing either screening/intake or investigations. Another 22 percent of children were living in jurisdictions served by agencies that have specialist workers who are assigned to another function on an as-needed basis. In contrast, only 16 percent of children nationwide were estimated to be under the jurisdiction of agencies where personnel were not specialized (Table 2-7).
| Staff | Agency | Number of children residing in areas served by agencies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Different workers for screening/intake and investigation | 870 (700-1,050) |
33% | 41,492,000 (31,305,000-51,680,000) |
57% |
| When needed, an intake worker can conduct an investigation, or an investigation worker can conduct screening/intake | 490 (360-610) |
19% | 16,290,000 (9,035,000-23,544,000) |
22% |
| Workers routinely conduct both screening/intake and investigation | 1,090 (910-1,280) |
42% | 11,985,000 (7,662,000-16,309,000) |
16% |
| Other | 120 (70-180) |
5% | 2,865,000 (1,129,000-4,600,000) |
4% |
| No response | 30 (1-60) |
1% | 578,000 (<1-1,219,000) |
<1% |
| Total | 2,610 (2,410-2,810) |
100% | 73,210,000 (73,210,000-73,210,000) |
100% |
The pattern of staff specialization is similar for agencies that provide the alternative response function. One difference, however, is that most workers in agencies with alternative response are assigned to other responsibilities. An average of four caseworker staff were assigned exclusively to providing alternative response, and an additional four were assigned to this function who also had other responsibilities. There was less than one other type of staff member assigned and about one part time staff person assigned. On average, 11 staff were assigned to alternative response options (Table 2-8).
| Position | Average number of full- time workersa | Average number of part- time workersb | Average number of staff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Estimate (C.I.) |
Est imate (C.I.) |
|
| Workers who only conducted this response | 3 (2-5) |
<1 (<1-1) |
4 (2-6) |
| Workers who conducted this response in addition to other responsibilities | 4 (3-4) |
<1 (<1-1) |
4 (3-5) |
| Supervisors who only supervised this response | <1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-1) |
| Supervisors who supervised this response in addition to other responsibilities | <1 (<1-1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
1 (<1-1) |
| Other staff assigned to this response | <1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-<1) |
<1 (<1-2) |
| Total | 10 (7-12) |
1 (<1-2) |
11 (8-14) |
| a Full time refers to the time spent on CPS activities
b Part time refers to the time spent on CPS activities |
|||
Among agencies that provide an alternative response, less than a majority assign specialist workers to screening/intake and the provision of the alternative response. Compared to screening/intake and investigations (Table 2-7, above), Table 2-9 provides similar data describing the pattern of staff allocation between areas where agency staff performed screening and intake and also alternative response. For many agencies providing an alternative response more staff (42%) were assigned to both functions. Fewer agencies were specialized (33%), even fewer assigned staff to either function on an as-needed basis (15%). With respect to national estimates of children, 64 percent were residing in a jurisdiction of agencies that used specialized staff to some degree (48% exclusively, and 16% with workers assigned temporarily), and 24 percent lived in areas served by agencies whose staff performed both screening/intake and the alternative response.
| Staff | Agency | Number of children residing in areas served by agencies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Different workers for screening/intake and alternative response | 550 (400-700) |
33% | 18,726,000 (8,541,000-28,912,000) |
48% |
| When needed, an intake worker can conduct an alternative response or vice versa | 260 (150-370) |
15% | 6,089,000 (2,386,000-9,792,000) |
16% |
| Workers routinely conduct both screening/intake and alternative response | 690 (540-850) |
42% | 9,557,000 (5,210,000-13,904,000) |
24% |
| Other | 130 (70-200) |
8% | 3,962,000 (1,307,000-6,618,000) |
10% |
| No response | 20 (0-40) |
1% | 945,000 (72,000-1,818,000) |
2% |
| Total | 1,660 (1,460-1,860) |
100% | 39,280,000 (24,111,000-54,450,000) |
100% |
For agencies with an alternative response option it was also possible to examine the degree to which workers specialized in providing the investigation and alternative response functions. Most agencies do not have specialist staff providing this function, and the same workers tend to provide both these functions. In more than one-half of the agencies (59%), workers performed both the investigation and alternative response functions, fewer agencies were exclusively specialized (21%), and fewer still switched staff between the two functions (11%), (Table 2-10).
Forty-five percent of children nationwide lived in jurisdictions where agency staff performed both responses, 33 percent where agencies employed specialized staff, 11 percent where agencies used staff who switched roles on an as-needed basis, and 8 percent where agencies used some other allocation method.
| Staff | Agency | Number of children residing in areas served by agencies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I .) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Different workers for investigation and alternative response | 350 (210-490) |
21% | 12,851,000 (6,839,000-18,864,000) |
33% |
| When needed, an investigation worker can conduct an alternative response, or vice versa | 190 (100-270) |
11% | 4,247,000 (1,121,000-7,373,000) |
11% |
| Workers routinely conduct both investigation and alternative response | 980 (800-1,160) |
59% | 17,582,000 (9,073,000-26,090,000) |
45% |
| Other | 120 (60-170) |
7% | 3,034,000 (394,000-5,674,000) |
8% |
| No response | 30 (0-50) |
2% | 1,566,000 (206,000-2,925,000) |
4% |
| Total | 1,660 (1,660-1,860) |
100% | 39,280,000 (24,111,000-54,450,000) |
100% |
[Go To Contents]
The average volume of services for CPS agencies sets the context for the level of response effort that CPS agencies must support. Nationally, the number of referrals received per agency was estimated to average 64 per month. The average number of completed investigations was estimated to be 43 per month and involved 93 children. An estimated 16 alternative response cases were processed each month that involved 32 children (Table 2-11).
| Function | Average number |
|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
|
| Number of referrals for screening/intake | 64 (39-89) |
| Number of completed investigations | 43 (19-67) |
| Number of children in completed investigated | 93 (37-149) |
| Number of completed alternative responses | 16 (10-22) |
| Number of children in completed alternative responses | 32 (19-44) |
The staff workload of CPS agencies is often of concern in that excessive workload may lead to inadequate services and jeopardize the safety of children. The following discussion describes the perceptions of agencies with respect to workload concerns.
Most agencies perceive that they are currently operating with excessive workloads. In addition, more than three-quarters of the Nation's children were residing in jurisdictions served by agencies with excessive workload in one or more CPS functions. Table 2-12 shows the estimated number of agencies with one or more of the three CPS functions (screening/intake, investigation, and alternative response) that reported excessive workloads. For most agencies (69%), workload was perceived as excessive for one or more functions, but for almost one-third of the agencies (31%) excessive workload was not a current concern. Of those agencies with workload concerns, one-third (33%) had issues concerning the three functions, one-fifth (21%) had issues with one of the three functions, and 15 percent had issues with two functions.
| Workload | Function | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screening and Intake | Investigation | Alternative Response | ||||
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Excessive workload for function | 100 (50-160) |
20% | 360 (250-480) |
70% | 50 (5-100) |
10% |
| Excessive workload not a concern for function | 420 (300-540) |
80% | 150 (86-220) |
30% | 180 (100-270) |
36% |
| No Response | -- | -- | -- | -- | 280 (190-370) |
54% |
| Total | 520 (380-650) |
100% | 520 (380-650) |
100% | 520 (380-650) |
100% |
More than one-half (53%) of children were under the jurisdiction of agencies with excessive workload across all CPS functions, 14 percent under the jurisdiction of agencies with excessive workload in one function, and 10 percent under the jurisdiction of agencies with excessive workload in two or more functions.
Among agencies with workload concerns for only one CPS function (Table 2-13), investigation was the most often indicated as a source of concern (70%), followed by screening (20%), and alternative response (10%).
| Concern | Agency | Number of children residing in areas served by agencies | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Excessive workload for all functions | 810 (670-940) |
33% | 34,445,000 (22,072,000-46,817,000) |
53% |
| Excessive workload for one function | 520 (380-650) |
21% | 9,327,000 (4,770,000-13,885,000) |
14% |
| Excessive workload for multiple (but not all) functions | 360 (230-480) |
15% | 6,717,000 (2,845,000-10,589,000) |
10% |
| Excessive workload for no functions | 750 (600-900) |
31% | 14,940,000 (9,683,000-20,197,000) |
23% |
| Total | 2,430 (2,220-2,640) |
100% | 65,429,000 (60,150,000-70,708,000) |
100% |
[Go To Contents]
A long standing concern regarding CPS is the nature and extent of service provision in addition to the basic requirements of CPS functions. In this section, an overall view of service provision — both during and after CPS intervention — is discussed.
Most CPS agencies are able to provide services following an investigation regardless of the determinations made during the investigation. Table 2-14 provides a breakdown of the criteria used by agencies following a CPS investigation. Nearly three-quarters of agencies (74%) were allowed to provide services regardless of the investigation determination. A smaller fraction of agencies (15%), were allowed to offer services in the event that a report was substantiated or indicated, and even fewer agencies (11%) offered no services other than the investigation.
| Practice | Investigation response agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Allowed to offer services, regardless of determination | 1,930 (1,730-2,130) |
74% |
| Allowed to offer services, only when referral is substantiated | 390 (250-520) |
15% |
| No services are offered at conclusion of investigation response | 290 (200-390) |
11% |
| Total | 2,610 (2,410-2,810) |
100% |
Most agencies are able to offer an extensive range of support services during and following the investigation or alternative response. Taking into account that some agencies did not provide an alternative response option, the relative frequency of service types was fairly consistent when comparing investigation and alternative response. More than three-quarters of agencies were estimated to be able to provide parenting classes, substance abuse programs, and child care. Agencies were least likely to offer financial planning, employment services, dental exams, and tutoring for both investigation and alternative response (Table 2-15).
Agencies tended to have flexible guidelines concerning when to provide services after the investigation was concluded with either no set timeframes or decisions made by supervisors. For most States there was either no time limit (22%) or the decision regarding the timing of services was made by a supervisor (27%). In contrast, a few agencies (18%) set time limits — the most common response being within 31-60 days (8%), followed by 1-30 days (6%), and 61-90 days (4%) as shown in Table 2-16.
For agencies with an alternative response, the same basic pattern is seen for investigations. However, when the numbers were adjusted to exclude agencies without an alternative response option, it is estimated that about 61 percent of the agencies had either no time limits (31%) or that it was the supervisor's discretion (30%). For these agencies, only 11 percent had set time limits for when services are to be initiated.
| Service | Investigation response agency | Alternative response agency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Parenting classes | 2,270 (2,080-2,460) |
87% | 1,420 (1,240-1,610) |
86% |
| Grief counseling | 1,750 (1,550-1,950) |
67% | 1,140 (970-1,300) |
68% |
| Marital counseling | 1,840 (1,650-2,030) |
71% | 1,230 (1,060-1,390) |
74% |
| Family systems therapy | 1,920 (1,720-2,120) |
74% | 1,210 (1,020-1,400) |
81% |
| Child therapy | 2,130 (1,940-2,330) |
82% | 1,330 (1,150-1,500) |
61% |
| Substance abuse programs | 2,200 (1,990-2,400) |
84% | 1,350 (1,170-1,530) |
81% |
| Medical exam | 1,730 (1,540-1,920) |
66% | 1,010 (880-1,150) |
61% |
| Dental exam | 1,500 (1,310-1,690) |
58% | 860 (720-1,010) |
52% |
| Homemaker/chore | 1,630 (1,410-1,820) |
62% | 1,070 (910-1,230) |
64% |
| Transportation | 1,660 (1,500-1,820) |
64% | 1,070 (910-1,220) |
64% |
| Tutoring | 1,060 (880-1,250) |
41% | 780 (620-940) |
47% |
| Financial planning | 1,470 (1,240-1,710) |
56% | 920 (760-1,090) |
56% |
| Advocacy services | 1,790 (1,620-1,960) |
69% | 1,120 (950-1,280) |
67% |
| Housing assistance | 1,670 (1,470-1,870) |
64% | 1,100 (930-1,270) |
66% |
| Child care | 1,990 (1,790-2,190) |
76% | 1,270 (1,100-1,440) |
77% |
| Employment services | 1,500 (1,300-1,700) |
58% | 900 (740-1,050) |
54% |
| Domestic violence services | 1,990 (1,790-2,190) |
76% | 1,230 (1,050-1,410) |
74% |
| Other service category one† | 220 (140-310) |
9% | 130 (50-210) |
8% |
| Other service category two† | 80 (20-140) |
3% | 10 (<1-20) |
<1 |
| * Percentages are not additive because agencies were included
in each applicable row (category). †Survey Respondents were asked to respond to two "other service" categories. Since these represent different services for the agencies with more than one, and since not all agencies provided data for two services, they are separated in the table. |
||||
| Timeframe | Investigation response agency | Alternative response agency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| No time limit | 560 (390-740) |
22% | 510 (370-650) |
31% |
| Time limit determined by supervisor | 710 (560-870) |
27% | 500 (360-640) |
30% |
| No more than 1-30 days | 160 (80-250) |
6% | 20 (0-40) |
1% |
| No more than 31-60 days | 200 (100-200) |
8% | 80 (30-130) |
5% |
| No more than 61-90 days | 110 (30-180) |
4% | 80 (10-140) |
5% |
| Other | 800 (640-960) |
31% | 270 (140-400) |
16% |
| No response | 70 (20-120) |
3% | 200 (130-270) |
12% |
| Total | 2,610 (2,410-2,810) |
100% | 1,660 (1,460-1,860) |
100% |
| * The categories "Investigation response Agency" and "Alternative response Agency" are not mutually exclusive as all agencies providing an alternative response also provide an investigation response. | ||||
When followup services are provided, most agencies require that the worker who conducted the investigation either prepare or participate in the formulation of the service plan. As seen in Table 2-17, more than one-half of the agencies (54%) either had the worker assist in the development of the service plan (29%) or act as a consultant to the worker who will actually provide the services (25%). In either case, the implication is that the authority for the case was transferred at that stage to another worker in more than one-half of the agencies. In 20 percent of agencies, the worker who conducted the response had only minimal involvement in the service provision aspect of the case. Examples of "other roles" included that the same worker continued providing services (the most common response), that the worker carried the case for a specified time following the investigation, or that the worker developed the case plan before the case was transferred.
For alternative response, the most common practice was "other" (42%). Examples of responses indicated that the worker who provided the response continued to provide services; however, for some agencies, this reflected the provision of the service by a private provider or that the case was closed after the alternative response was provided.
| Practice | Investigation response agency | Alternative response agency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Worker transfers case with minimal involvement | 510 (370-650) |
20% | 210 (110-310) |
13% |
| Worker assists new service worker in making a service plan | 760 (600-920) |
29% | 330 (220-440) |
20% |
| Worker is a resource for the service worker | 640 (500-780) |
25% | 270 (160-380) |
16% |
| Other | 630 (480-780) |
24% | 700 (560-840) |
42% |
| No response | 70 (30-110) |
3% | 150 (90-220) |
9% |
| Total | 2,610 (2,410-2,810) |
100% | 1,660 (1,460-1,860) |
100% |
| * The categories "Investigation response Agency" and "Alternative response Agency" are not mutually exclusive as all agencies providing an alternative response also provide an investigation response. | ||||
Many agencies did not have any type of arrangement for prioritizing services with other providers — 43 percent of agencies for investigations, and 45 percent for agencies with an alternative response did not have an arrangement. Of those agencies that did have an arrangement, most had an arrangement with multiple providers comprising some combination of mental health, substance abuse, and other providers — 33 percent for investigations, and 34 percent for alternative response. Roughly 7 to 8 percent of investigation response agencies indicated that they had only one priority arrangement with either a mental health, substance abuse, or other provider. Similarly, the percent for agencies that provide alternative response ranged from 5 to 6 percent of agencies (Table 2-18). Other provider types included domestic violence agencies, sexual maltreatment agencies, pediatricians, private psychologists, housing authorities, public assistance agencies, and so forth.
| Arrangements | Investigation response agency | Alternative response agency | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | Estimate (C.I.) |
Percent | |
| Agency does not have priority status arrangements | 1,130 (940-1,320) |
43% | 750 (590-900) |
45% |
| Agency has priority status arrangements with mental health providers | 190 (110-270) |
7% | 80 (30-130) |
5% |
| Agency has priority status arrangements with substance abuse providers | 190 (120-260) |
7% | 100 (50-150) |
6% |
| Agency has priority status arrangements with other providers | 200 (130-280) |
8% | 100 (40-160) |
6% |
| Agency has priority status arrangements with multiple types of services providers | 860 (700-1,010) |
33% | 560 (410-710) |
34% |
| No response | 40 (0-70) |
1% | 80 (40-120) |
5% |
| Total | 2,610 (2,410-2,810) |
100% | 1,660 (1,460-1,860) |
100% |
[Go To Contents]
The findings presented above are intended to paint a broad picture and provide context for the more detailed aspects of CPS service delivery that are described in the following chapters. From the perspective of primary CPS functions, virtually all agencies are providing screening and intake, and all are providing investigation responses. More than one-half of the agencies are also providing some form of an alternative response to children and families where maltreatment is alleged, in addition to the primary investigation function. The average number of staff members in each agency is 26, of which 7 are social or caseworkers and 3 are supervisors.
Regarding the specialization of staff in performing the CPS functions, the degree of specialization depends on whether an alternative response function exists. A slight majority of agencies operate with specialized staff in their screening/intake and investigation functions. When an alternative response is available, the screening/intake and alternative response are not specialized quite as often. Also, for agencies that provide alternative response, fewer than one-half of all agencies are specialized so that the same workers are providing both investigation and the alternative response. However, when the numbers of children residing in counties served by agencies are considered, nationally more children reside in counties that are served by agencies with staff who specialize in all CPS functions. For example, 54 percent of all children reside in jurisdictions that are served by agencies where workers either specialize in screening/intake or who exclusively provide investigations. This latter finding indicates that in addition to the presence of alternative response, agency size is also a factor in the degree of specialization.
The findings also addressed questions about the numbers of services and the staffing resources available to agencies. On average, CPS handled 64 referrals per month, and completed 43 investigations and 16 alternative responses, if they offered this response.
Most agencies believe that their workloads are excessive. Almost 70 percent of agencies thought this was the case for at least one function, if not all three. Where only one function was involved, for 70 percent of agencies it was the investigation function. In contrast to the 70 percent of agencies that felt that excessive workload is a concern, three-quarters of the Nation's children resided in jurisdictions whose CPS agencies had this concern. Thus, on the basis of the population of children residing in jurisdictions served by the agencies, it appears that agencies in areas with larger child populations tended to report excessive workload as a concern more frequently than agencies serving jurisdictions with smaller populations.
Most agencies were allowed to provide services to any child and family regardless of the outcome of the investigation or alternative response or whether a child was found to be maltreated or not. Almost all agencies had a wide range of services that could be made available.
Main Page of Report | Contents of Report
Home Pages:
Human Services Policy (HSP)
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
(ASPE)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS)