Oregon DHS To Stop Using ‘Safety At Screening’ Tool In Favor Of Structured Decision Making Model For Child Welfare Investigations

At the end of June 2022, the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) will stop using its "Safety at Screening Tool" algorithm to determine if a child maltreatment report meets criteria for investigation by child protective service. DHS is transitioning to a new structured decision making (SDM) process that ODHS officials believe will result in better, more racially equitable decisions. The change takes place June 30, 2022.

According an ODHS spokesperson, in 2020 the Child Welfare Division set out to improve its maltreatment report screening processes. It examined the scope of questions ODHS asks case reporters, how this information is . . .