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The Right Tool for the Right Moment: Using SDM and PRM Together
April 23, 2026 | Evident Change
Structured Decision Making® (SDM) assessments and predictive risk models (PRM) offer different and complementary benefits for child welfare systems. A new paper from Evident Change addresses how these models work and what they can accomplish together, as well as the potential harm and liability that can arise when the limitations of models aren’t accounted for.
“The Right Tool for the Right Moment: Predictive Risk Modeling, the Structured Decision Making Model, and the Architecture of Child Welfare Decision Support,” authored by Dr. Erin M. Espinosa, offers clear and practical guidance for child welfare leaders. This paper establishes that “a well-designed child welfare system benefits from using both PRM and SDM” and examines why these two models are not interchangeable.
Child welfare leaders who understand how these models work can leverage the benefits of both. As Espinosa writes, “Sequencing and integrating these tools successfully enables agencies to take advantage of what each does best, while ensuring that none is asked to do what it cannot.”
For more information, contact Dr. Erin Espinosa, Director of Research.
Structured Decision Making® (SDM) assessments and predictive risk models (PRM) offer different and complementary benefits for child welfare systems. A new paper from Evident Change addresses how these models work and what they can accomplish together, as well as the potential harm and liability that can arise when the limitations of models aren’t accounted for….
