Child welfare officials in Oregon will stop using an algorithm to help decide which families are investigated by social workers, opting instead for a new process that officials say will make better, more racially equitable decisions.
FILE - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Oct. 19, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Child welfare officials in Oregon will stop using an algorithm to help decide which families are investigated by social workers, opting instead for an entirely new process that officials said will make more racially equitable decisions.
From California to Colorado and Pennsylvania, as child welfare agencies use or consider implementing algorithms, an AP review identified concerns about transparency, reliability and racial disparities in the use of the technology, including their potential to harden bias in the child welfare system. Sunderland said Oregon child welfare officials had long been considering changing their investigations process before making the announcement last month.
But Oregon officials tweaked their original algorithm to only draw from internal child welfare data in calculating a family’s risk, and tried to deliberately address racial bias in its design with a “fairness correction.”
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California child abuse database lacks half of county reportsAuditors said social welfare departments, adoption agencies, county licensing agencies and others cannot rely on the database when they check on people, including for positions in day care centers or group homes.
Read more »
Housing, Child Care, Utilities—Nashville Faces Exceptional Inflation Hit From All SidesAn influx of new residents has caused housing prices to soar in Tennessee’s capital, pushing out some longtime inhabitants. Many are cutting back on spending or taking on more work. “It’s just too expensive,” said one lifelong resident.
Read more »
California child abuse database lacks half of county reportsMore than half of substantiated California child abuse reports in recent years were not in the state’s database, which could result in child abusers being allowed to care for children, state …
Read more »
Child indecency charges dropped against Houston chef, DA's office saysThe district attorney's office determined that 'probable cause exists, but (a) case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt at this time.'
Read more »
California child abuse database lacks half of county reports, audit findsMore than half of substantiated California child abuse reports in recent years were not in the state's database, which could result in child abusers being allowed to care for children, state auditors said Tuesday.
Read more »
ICE Unit charges 19-year-old Saskatoon man with child porn possessionAiden Bohle is charged with three counts of making available child pornography and four counts of possession of child pornography.
Read more »