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Through the Family’s Eyes: How Local Rationality Can Shape Child Welfare Decision Making

Carey, Megan LU (2026) FLMU16 20252
Division of Risk Management and Societal Safety
Abstract
Child welfare workers are constantly making critical and potential
life-altering decisions regarding children and their families. This
study examines how incorporating and understanding families’ local
rationality may influence safety assessments and service
recommendations conducted during an investigation. Furthermore, this
research explores how workers interpret family dynamics and
behaviours within complex situations. For this thesis, ten semi
structured interviews were completed with investigative workers from
the Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) using a
qualitative design. During this study, four key themes emerged: the
tension between procedural and relational decision-making in child
welfare,... (More)
Child welfare workers are constantly making critical and potential
life-altering decisions regarding children and their families. This
study examines how incorporating and understanding families’ local
rationality may influence safety assessments and service
recommendations conducted during an investigation. Furthermore, this
research explores how workers interpret family dynamics and
behaviours within complex situations. For this thesis, ten semi
structured interviews were completed with investigative workers from
the Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) using a
qualitative design. During this study, four key themes emerged: the
tension between procedural and relational decision-making in child
welfare, the important role experience plays in understanding
families’ perspectives, the impact that local rationality can have
on decision-making in child welfare cases, and how safety science
training, especially around local rationality, could potentially
improve these skills. Findings suggest that while procedural
requirements such as policy and procedures have an important role in
ensuring child safety, being able to integrate the families’
perspective may lead to more informed and effective decisions for
children and their families. Given the high staff turnover rate
child welfare has experienced for years, this study suggests that
integrating safety science principles into training and supervision
will help newer workers acquire these necessary decision-making
skills and at the same time improve retention. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Carey, Megan LU
supervisor
organization
course
FLMU16 20252
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Child welfare, local rationality, decision-making, safety science, risk assessment, child protective services (CPS), FLMU06
language
English
id
9226549
date added to LUP
2026-05-21 15:28:08
date last changed
2026-05-21 15:28:08
@misc{9226549,
  abstract     = {{Child welfare workers are constantly making critical and potential 
life-altering decisions regarding children and their families. This 
study examines how incorporating and understanding families’ local 
rationality may influence safety assessments and service 
recommendations conducted during an investigation. Furthermore, this 
research explores how workers interpret family dynamics and 
behaviours within complex situations. For this thesis, ten semi
structured interviews were completed with investigative workers from 
the Maine Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) using a 
qualitative design. During this study, four key themes emerged: the 
tension between procedural and relational decision-making in child 
welfare, the important role experience plays in understanding 
families’ perspectives, the impact that local rationality can have 
on decision-making in child welfare cases, and how safety science 
training, especially around local rationality, could potentially 
improve these skills. Findings suggest that while procedural 
requirements such as policy and procedures have an important role in 
ensuring child safety, being able to integrate the families’ 
perspective may lead to more informed and effective decisions for 
children and their families. Given the high staff turnover rate 
child welfare has experienced for years, this study suggests that 
integrating safety science principles into training and supervision 
will help newer workers acquire these necessary decision-making 
skills and at the same time improve retention.}},
  author       = {{Carey, Megan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Through the Family’s Eyes: How Local Rationality Can Shape Child Welfare Decision Making}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}