Services to prevent children coming unnecessarily into care: A cross-national perspective

Abstract

Placing children in state care is sometimes the best alternative service for children at-risk. Yet, many countries are continuously seeking to prevent unnecessary placement in publicly provided out-of-home care. This paper reports findings from a cross-national survey of 'preventive' and 'early intervention' child welfare services. The overarching goal of the survey was to increase understanding about the way decisions are taken regarding the need for out-of-home care services, and to suggest ideas concerning 'best practice' in ensuring that entry to care is prevented for those who can be better supported in their own homes and communities. We also report briefly on an experiment in one country (Italy) that used an evidence-informed assessment model aimed at reducing unnecessary out-of-home care. Finally, our findings show that in all jurisdictions social workers have an important role in allocation and provision of preventive services to children at-risk and their families.