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The “Front Door” to Child Protection—Issues and Innovations

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International Journal on Child Maltreatment: Research, Policy and Practice Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

How children and families get access to services and supports is critical to the provision of timely help and protective interventions. In this article, the major findings of the front door policies, processes, and practices used across 25 jurisdictions in developed countries are described and assessed. The use and outcomes of actuarial and consensus-based tools to assess risk of harm are examined, and the systemic limitations of such are explored including the potential for misapplication of the tools. Key issues and trends are identified including the increasing use of practice frameworks used in conjunction with risk assessment tools, the development of culturally safe approaches to practice, and the use of differential response to address relational problems such as service user hostility and referrals to community-based supports. The growing use of public health approaches to prevention was identified along with reform agendas to address the difficult task of building system communication, collaboration, and integration. The need for greater use of community development approaches to mobilize informal support networks for struggling families and communities is proposed. Because there are no “off-the-shelf panaceas” available, the importance of jurisdictions ensuring that system changes are undertaken with consideration of their local context and needs is highlighted by these developments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, Australia

    Bob Lonne, Erica Russ, Louise Morley, Stuart Robertson, Tania Pearce & Jennifer Smith

  2. School of Population Health and Social Work, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Celine Harrison

  3. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Population and Public Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Maria Harries

Authors
  1. Bob Lonne
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  2. Erica Russ
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  3. Celine Harrison
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  4. Louise Morley
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  6. Stuart Robertson
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Correspondence to Erica Russ.

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Conflict of Interest

The desktop research undertaken of the established efficacy of risk assessment tools and front door policies, processes, and practices in the 25 jurisdictions examined by the authors was funded by the New South Wales (Australia) government as one component of Their Futures Matter, a broad-scale initiative for reform of the child protection system. The system re-design entails as follows:

… developing a whole-of-government strategy and outcomes framework to guide the reforms. This strategy comprises: a multi-agency ten-year vision, supported by specific goals for the reforms. It also includes four strategic priorities:

  1. 1.

    The needs of children, young people and families are at the centre of decisions.

  2. 2.

    The needs of children, young people and families will be addressed earlier.

  3. 3.

    Children, young people and families receive the right service at the right time.

  4. 4.

    A responsive and highly skilled workforce for better outcomes.

The system transformation will produce significant benefits by delivering a system that provides timely support to prevent harm and keep families together where it is safe to do so (see https://www.theirfuturesmatter.nsw.gov.au/)

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Lonne, B., Russ, E., Harrison, C. et al. The “Front Door” to Child Protection—Issues and Innovations. Int. Journal on Child Malt. 3, 351–367 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42448-020-00051-9

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