Date of Conferral

8-26-2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Karel Kurst-Swanger

Abstract

Child fatalities resulting from abuse and neglect have a residual effect on families, communities, and child protective services (CPS) professionals tasked with ensuring child safety. The purpose of the mixed-methods study was to examine how CPS professionals made decisions in high-risk and fatality cases by evaluating decision-making processes, identifying contextual and interpersonal influences, and addressing practice questions related to administrative data, case records, caseworker and supervisor perspectives, cost implications, and organizational supports. The theoretical framework of Simon’s theory of bounded rationality and near decomposability along with Fluke et al.’s ecology of decision-making model formed the study’s analysis. The study included descriptive statistics and Spearman’s Rho analysis for quantitative data. Qualitative thematic analysis was conducted from semistructured interviews with CPS staff, focusing on one fatality case and 30 high-risk investigations. Findings revealed that decision quality is impacted by emotional stress, cognitive overload, and variability in case engagement. Limited face-to-face contact raised concerns about the accuracy of risk assessments. At the same time, cost analysis revealed inefficiencies and highlighted the need for evidence-based behavioral health models to improve decision-making and safety. The study has implications for public administrative practice by uniting cognitive and affective processes, strengthening CPS decision-making through reflective tools, revised risk protocols, real-time dashboards, simulation training, balanced policies, and interdisciplinary councils, advancing public administration and driving social change.

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