Less effort in worsening child protection cases? The time-course of intensity of services

The need to intervene in a worsening child protection case may interfere with the involved professionals' expectancies of controlling the outcome. However, empirical data on intensity of services in child protection are scarce. To fill this gap, the present study analyzed a sample of Swiss child protection case files opened between 1993 and 2002. Intensity of services in worsening cases was compared to intensity of services in cases where child or family functioning improved. As hypothesized, the intensity of services in worsening cases declined over time and was significantly below the intensity level in improved cases. Unexpectedly, the intensity of services was already lower at the beginning of service provision in cases later classified as “worsening.” The alarming finding could both be associated with an instance of self-fulfilling prophecy or with the effects of “creaming”.

Research highlights► We examined the intensity of services in child protection cases over time. ► Worsening cases were compared to cases where child or family functioning improved. ► Intensity of services declined in worsening cases and was consistently lower. ► Alarmingly, worsening cases already started off at a lower intensity level.