In particular, the paper examines imbalances in the child protection system, notably the excessive emphasis on child protection at the expense of child welfare. Additionally, the paper describes how authorities in Strathclyde, Scotland, sought to focus the child protection investigation system using management information to measure performance and compare different areas. The resulting information served as the basis for training and encouraging social workers to renew their practices and respond appropriately to child care referrals. The goal is to ensure children are not drawn into the child protection net inappropriately but rather are dealt with according to the child welfare framework. 15 references and 2 figures