Structured Decision-Making Systems Overlook 56% of Serious Child AbuseCases

December 13, 2004 Structured Decision-Making Systems Overlook 56% of Serious Child Abuse Cases Structured decision-making (SDM) systems, used to assist caseworkers in screening a family's history and situation in determining endangerment of abuse, has been found to overlook 56% of serious child abuse cases for up to two years in states that have implemented the method. The system, implemented in New Jersey June 2004, replaces a decision model that previously allowed caseworkers an individual, subjective perspective to reports. The SDM is part of New Jersey's child welfare reform.  The report found that the SDM system too . . .