Differential response (DR) is a variation of delivering child protective services (CPS), which includes at least two distinct pathways for responding to screened-in reports of child maltreatment: the investigative response (IR) and the alternative response (AR). DR is also sometimes used to refer to CPS systems that are comprised of only one pathway for responding to screened-in reports, namely IR, but includes a diversion component, which triages screened-out reports to community agencies. This dataset does not address this latter type of DR system. Generally, AR, under the dual response pathway version of DR, is intended for low- and moderate-risk maltreatment allegations, while IR is reserved for allegations of child maltreatment that are considered to be of high risk or needing potential involvement of law enforcement. Given the interest and growth of DR throughout child welfare systems in the United States, the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services funded the National Quality Improvement Center on Differential Response in Child Protective Services (QIC-DR). The American Humane Association received this award, which was later transferred to The Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. The QIC-DR operated between 2008 and 2014. Three research and demonstration sites were selected to implement and evaluate DR. The sites selected were:

Investigators: Merkel-Holguin, L., Yuan, Y. T., Jowers, K., Hollinshead, D., Fluke, J., & Hahn, A.