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This version was published on March 1, 2008
Research on Social Work Practice, Vol. 18, No. 2, 144-159 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1049731507305394
© 2008 SAGE Publications

Using Cumulative Risk to Screen for Mental Health Problems in Child Welfare

Julie S. McCrae

University of Pittsburgh, jsmccrae{at}pitt.edu.

Richard P. Barth

University of Maryland

Objective: This study tests the hypothesis that information typically collected during a maltreatment investigation can be used to screen children for mental health problems. Method: Data are from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Cumulative risk scores were created for 3,022 children and compared to reports of clinical-level problems using standardized measures. Bivariate, multivariate, and sensitivity analyses were used. Results: Cumulative risk showed 73% sensitivity to identify children with mental health concerns and 52% specificity to identify children without such concerns. Comparatively, child welfare worker indications showed 48% sensitivity and 78% specificity. Conclusions: Investigative information could serve the dual purpose of screening children for mental health problems, having the potential for benefit and cost avoidance.

Key Words: cumulative risk • NSCAW • mental health screening • child welfare


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