Oregon drops 'unfair' child abuse Safety at Screening tool

An algorithm used by Oregon’s Department of Human Services to help decide which families are investigated for child abuse and neglect by child protective services was scrapped. 

The decision comes after an AP review of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Family Screening Tool (SST) found it had flagged a disproportionate number of Black children for 'mandatory' neglect investigations. Allegheny's Safety at Screening (SAS) tool had inspired Oregon officials to develop their own system.

Oregon officials said use of its tool was halted to help reduce disparities concerning which families are investigated for child abuse and neglect by child protective services, and that it would be replaced by a new programme - the Structured Decision Making model.

SST was also criticised for inaccurately misidentifying individuals at risk, resulting in the possibility of stigmatisation and inappropriate interventions, for poor transparency and for undermining trust in the state's criminal justice system.