TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving decision-making agreement in child protection cases by using information regarding parents' response to an intervention
T2 - A vignette study
AU - van der Asdonk, Sabine
AU - van Berkel, Sheila R.
AU - de Haan, Whitney D.
AU - van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.
AU - Schuengel, Carlo
AU - Alink, Lenneke R.A.
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - Out-of-home placement decisions are complex and have a high impact on the lives of children and their parents. This study investigated whether information regarding parents' response to an attachment-based intervention impacted placement decisions and agreement among decision-makers. We presented 144 professionals and Master students with vignettes reflecting child protection cases. In addition to the standard information, half of these vignettes included a description of parents' response to an attachment-based intervention. Participants were asked to read four vignettes (randomly selected out of sixteen) and to indicate whether they would advise an out-of-home placement. Generalized Estimating Equations showed that overall, participants did not converge more in their decisions for vignettes that included a description of parents' response to an attachment-based intervention than for vignettes that contained only standard information. However, the description did increase agreement when the vignettes reflected more ambiguous cases or when parents' described response was positive. Negative descriptions of parents' response increased agreement for Master students, but not for professionals. These findings provide initial evidence that information regarding parents' response to an attachment-based intervention may enhance the quality of placement decisions.
AB - Out-of-home placement decisions are complex and have a high impact on the lives of children and their parents. This study investigated whether information regarding parents' response to an attachment-based intervention impacted placement decisions and agreement among decision-makers. We presented 144 professionals and Master students with vignettes reflecting child protection cases. In addition to the standard information, half of these vignettes included a description of parents' response to an attachment-based intervention. Participants were asked to read four vignettes (randomly selected out of sixteen) and to indicate whether they would advise an out-of-home placement. Generalized Estimating Equations showed that overall, participants did not converge more in their decisions for vignettes that included a description of parents' response to an attachment-based intervention than for vignettes that contained only standard information. However, the description did increase agreement when the vignettes reflected more ambiguous cases or when parents' described response was positive. Negative descriptions of parents' response increased agreement for Master students, but not for professionals. These findings provide initial evidence that information regarding parents' response to an attachment-based intervention may enhance the quality of placement decisions.
KW - Attachment
KW - CPS
KW - Decision making
KW - Maltreatment
KW - Parental sensitivity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85073101774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85073101774&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104501
DO - 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.104501
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85073101774
SN - 0190-7409
VL - 107
SP - 1
EP - 10
JO - Children and Youth Services Review
JF - Children and Youth Services Review
M1 - 104501
ER -
