Can an Algorithm Tell When Kids Are in Danger?

This article, from The New York Times Magazine, discusses Allegheny County, Pennslyvania’s use of a predictive analytic tool to inform decision-making during the screening of child welfare reports. The Allegheny Family Screening Tool (AFST) assesses a child’s future risk of maltreatment based on an analysis of over 100 datapoints maintained in the county’s integrated data system. It was developed to provide more information to call screeners and improve the county’s management of child maltreatment allegations.