Los Angeles County Self-Assessment Report

Narrative Assessment of Child and Family Outcomes
Participation Rates: Referrals, Substantiations, Entries, and Caseload:
During the past three fiscal periods, DCFS has seen a gradual increase in referral and
entry rates, but a gradual reduction in substantiation rates. Since FY 04-05, referral
rates increased by 3.7% and entry rates increase by 21.8%. Substantiation rates,
however, decreased by 3.96%. Referral rates are beyond the control of DCFS, as any
member of the community may call the Child Protection Hotline to report suspected
child abuse and neglect. Referral rates may be caused by socio-economic factors, such
as a declining economy and housing costs that have become unaffordable for many in
Los Angeles, but causes to the hike in referral rates are purely speculative. The
increased entry rates since 2004 may be influenced by the implementation of Team
Decision Making (TDM) and Structured Decision Making (SDM), as both interventions
require the social worker to conduct a thorough assessment on all the risk and safety
issues that are affecting child safety. Purposes of TDM and SDM include supporting the
social worker in making the best possible decisions on a case, not reducing entry rates.
While increases in the use of TDM and SDM were occurring, so were increases in entry
rates.
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Referrals, Substatiations & Entry
Rates
Jan 2004-
Dec. 04
Jan 2005 -
Dec 05
Jan 2006 -
Dec 06
Referral Rates ( Incidence per 1,000 children)
Participation Rates: Substantiation Rates (Incidence per 1,000 children)
Participation Rates: Entry Rates (Incidence per 1,000 children)
46