Screening and Assessment Tools for Child Welfare

The Advisory Committee selected Screening and Assessment Tools as a topic for the CEBC because of the importance of screening and assessment to overall effectiveness in child welfare. Gathering valid and useful information is critical for appropriate and targeted intervention with children, youth, and families who come to the attention of the child welfare system. Many factors, including the child's safety, the risk of future maltreatment, parental protective capacity, and child well-being must be accurately assessed on an ongoing basis. Through careful and thorough screening, child welfare workers can ensure that children and families receive the most appropriate agency response. Comprehensive assessment provides a foundation for developing an effective plan with the family. While screening and assessment tools abound, there is limited information available regarding their use and effectiveness. Of particular interest are tools that can be used by workers directly with families, building a common understanding regarding the family's needs, strengths, and resources, and that can be used to measure progress on goals over time.

(Introduction written by Pamela Day, Co-Director, Child Welfare Information Gateway, Member of the CEBC Advisory Committee.)

Alphabetical Listing of Screening and Assessment Tools for Child Welfare

Assessment Tool Rating System

The Screening and Assessment Tools for Child Welfare section has its own rating system.