Child welfare predictive analytics systems

Kent Hoover filed this request on behalf of Todd Feathers with the Tennessee Department Of Children's Services of Tennessee.

It is a clone of this request.

Due May 11, 2021
Est. Completion None
Status
Awaiting Response

Communications

From: Todd Feathers

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Tennessee Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1) Contracts with any company, nonprofit, or other entity that currently provides software to the department that includes predictive analytics models for child welfare (i.e., models designed to identify home placement risk, abuse risk, human trafficking risk, etc.). This should include contracts for CCWIS or comparable systems that include predictive models as well as project descriptions for any models created in-house.

2) Data dictionaries for all child welfare predictive models used by the department, including those provided by outside entities as well as in-house models. Data dictionaries are documents commonly created for predictive models and databases. They describe the categories of data that are inputs (age, gender, etc.) and outputs (risk level, etc.) of predictive models. They are equivalent to headers on a spreadsheet, and do not include actual data.

3) A list of all memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and/or data sharing agreements with state or local agencies for the provision of data that is incorporated into the department's child welfare predictive models. Should the department not maintain a list of these MOUs, I will accept copies of the MOUs themselves.

4) Any differential impact assessments, validation studies, or comparable documents that describe the accuracy of child welfare predictive models used by the department. This should include any documents that describe common measures of predictive accuracy, such as area under the curve (AUC).

5) All department policies, employee manuals, and guidelines describing how employees can and/or should use child welfare predictive models.

6) All governance board, committee, or outside expert reviews assessing the efficacy of the department's proposed or current child welfare predictive models.

Should you have questions regarding any aspect of this request, please don't hesitate to contact me.

I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist and intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employ involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.

Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.

I would prefer the request be filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you very much for your help, and I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Todd Feathers

From: Tennessee Department Of Children's Services

Dear Mr. Feathers,

Please see attached for the Department's response to your public records request, thanks.

Best,
Andrew McNicholas
[cid:image001.png@01D74253.3F009300]
Andrew McNicholas | Associate Counsel
Office of General Counsel
UBS Tower-7th Floor I 315 Deaderick Street, Nashville, TN 37243
Office: 615-253-1039 Fax: (615) 532-2348
Mobile: 615-202-3179
Andrew.McNicholas@tn.gov<mailto:Andrew.McNicholas@tn.gov>
tn.gov/dcs<http://tn.gov/dcs>| facebook<https://www.facebook.com/TNdcs> | twitter<https://twitter.com/tn_dcs> | to report child abuse or neglect: 1-877-237-0004

NOTE: This e-mail may contain PRIVILEGED and CONFIDENTIAL information and is intended only for the use of the specific individual(s) to which it is addressed. If you are not an intended recipient of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any unauthorized use, dissemination, or copying of this e-mail, the information contained in it, or attached to it is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please delete it and immediately notify the person above by reply e-mail. Thank you.

From: Muckrock Staff

Hello,

Please see attached for Mr. Hoover's proof of citizenship. Thank you for your help with this request.

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