Risk assessment in child protective services: an evaluation of the child at risk field system

ACTION's assessment system for Child Protective Services practice evolved a multimethod evaluation procedure which is used to compare pre- and post-Child at Risk Field (CARF) system implementation. Statistically important differences between samples in certain client services provided or received, and the links between crucial casework decisions and information obtained by workers employing the CARF system, were evident, even though the system suffered from poor implementation.