Differential Response Backgrounder

A more flexible intake and assessment model

Changes in child welfare practice across Ontario are improving the way child welfare agencies serve children and families.  Beginning in April 2007, child welfare agencies began to respond to referrals using a more flexible “Differential Response Model”.  Differential, alternative or multiple response models have been adopted by more than half of the jurisdictions in the US, parts of Australia, and in British Columbia and Alberta.  In Ontario, the child welfare field recognizes the importance of protecting children and putting their best interests first, engaging parents, involving extended family and community networks in protecting children, building on the strengths and motivation of parents to do a better job, and acknowledging the enormous challenges many families face in sustaining healthy lives. 

Differential Response is an approach to provide children and families with different “streams” of service based on the type and severity of child maltreatment and the needs of the family.  A new set of child protection standards and established aids to decision-making give child protection workers consistent guidelines so that they can more accurately assess what each child and family requires.  These standards and aids provide clear guidelines for working with children and families, but also encourage the use of professional judgment and collaboration.

For example, when a community member or professional calls with concerns, child protection professionals will work with that person to gather detailed information about the situation, in order to determine the family’s strengths and supports, and the community services they have already used or may require.  If the protection worker determines that the child is not in immediate danger or risk of harm, he/she will be able to assist the family by taking a “customized approach” designed to connect them with community resources sooner and more quickly than in the past.

The revised Ministry standards further support child protection workers to involve families in the planning of the care and service they receive.  This empowers families to be active participants throughout their work with the child welfare agency and other community service providers.    This type of planning means that extended family, community and other professionals can come together more frequently with the child and his/her family to discuss concerns, and to explore and build upon the strengths of the family.  The standards provide direction and suggestions about how these planning meetings will be structured.

In addition to consulting with the family, the standards also emphasize the importance of addressing a child’s cultural and emotional needs as part of planning for the safety of the child.  In some cases, the child welfare agency will be able to provide services and financial supports to the family if a child in need of protection is placed with family members as an alternative to admission to foster care.

The new legislation, provincial policy and funding mechanisms show that the MCYS has acknowledged the need for Differential Response and has supported these changes.  The Child Protection Standards will guide protection workers in each phase of service delivery, beginning with the initial report of suspected child abuse or neglect and continuing through the process of determining whether a child needs to come into the care of a child welfare agency. 

The standards will also guide child protection workers through the investigative phase of service, initial planning, ongoing case management, transfers to other workers, supervision throughout all phases of service, and finally termination/completion of child welfare services.

The new clinical tools are designed to be more effective and efficient. Using these tools will allow protection workers to spend more time with the children and families who need help.