Does using the tool of 'Safety Networks' in child welfare create enough safety so children can remain, or return to the home?

This paper will explore if the tool of safety networks in child welfare can create enough safety so children can remain, or return back to the home. My selected research design is a thematic review of the literature using twelve electronic databases that were searched between March 2019 and October 2019 using specific search terms. Through the literature review I was able to locate research regarding utilizing safety networks in child welfare settings. This review resulted in limited research findings; therefore, I drew on a broader range of research literature to support these claims. The literature review indicated that applying safety networks in child maltreatment cases may help in the reduction of re-maltreatment after case closure and showed some promise in helping children integrate back into their parent’s care after a removal has occurred. Utilizing safety networks could have several implications to social work practice including potentially reducing costs for the child welfare agency by keeping children out of the care system and also reducing social worker burnout. Safety networks may also help children and families reduce the emotional toll of being removed from their parental home due to child welfare concerns. Using safety networks has the potential to diminish current child welfare concerns that have been linked to many negative childhood experiences, and/ or prevent future child welfare concerns from reoccurring after the case has been closed.