1. Child Abuse and Neglect Today
The Role of Child Protective Services
The Demographics of Children in Need of Protection
Consequences of Reporting

2. A Comparative Perspective
Operation of Child Protective Services
Sample Data
Criteria for Reporting
Procedures after Reporting
Differences in Outcome by Type of Reporter
Outcomes
Why Are U.S. Reporting Rates So High?

3. The Current Child Protective Services System
Scope
A Brief History of CPS
Underlying Assumptions
A Critical View of the System
Implications for a New Paradigm

4. Entry into the System
History of the Reporting Laws
The Reporting, Screening, and Investigation System
Reforming the Intake System
Contents

5. Narrowing as a Strategy to Improve Child Protection
The Case for Narrowing
What Would "Narrowing" Mean?
Evaluating the Case for Narrowing
How "Narrowing Plus" Might Be Accomplished
Unresolved Issues

6. Differential Response: A New Paradigm for Child Protective Services
Paradigms for Child Protective Services
The Diversity and Complexity of Families Referred to CPS
Features of the Differential Response Paradigm
Moving to Differential Response

7. Working Together: Child Protection Reform in Britain
The Development of the British CPS System
The Impetus for Reform
The Children Act of 1989
Beyond the Children Act

8. Changing Frontline Practice
Implications of the New Paradigm
Lessons from Earlier Initiatives to Change
Frontline Practice
How States and Localities Can Help

9. Reforming Child Protection
The Current Child Protective Services System
A New Paradigm for Child Protection
Moving toward a More Fully Differentiated System
Improving the Effectiveness of the CPS
System's Response
Increasing the Role of Community Partners in Child Protection
The Endpoint of the Reforms

Notes

Index

Jane Waldfogel is Professor of Social Work and Public Affairs at Columbia University.

Read More by Jane Waldfogel:

• What Children Need