Theory of Change

As a result of CSI, we theorize that:

• The public will develop a stronger ability to recognize and report child abuse, leading to more informed, actionable reports.

• Child protection will shift from being solely a professional duty to a shared community responsibility, fostering collective vigilance and intervention.

• Unconscious bias and subjective assumptions in reporting will decrease, reducing unnecessary child welfare involvement when intervention is not warranted.

• Child protection agencies will receive higher-quality reports, enabling more efficient resource allocation and ensuring timely responses to children at genuine risk.

• A more informed public will help fill critical gaps caused by high turnover in child welfare, reducing the risk of children falling through the cracks.

• Child protection efforts will strengthen sustainably without requiring constant agency expansion—training more individuals over time will create a resilient, community-driven safety net.

• Systemic change will occur as child safety education becomes widely accessible, expanding the child protection network and strengthening efforts at every level.