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Safer Child Protective Services Reporting—The BEST Timeout Model

JAMA Pediatrics 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2721

August 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM EDT

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This Viewpoint discusses the BEST (Bias, Education and Support, Situational Awareness, and Transparency) Timeout model to reduce the impact of bias, improve clarity about families’ needs, and increase the likelihood that a full explanation for presenting complaints is gathered when considering reporting cases to Child Protective Services.

Corresponding Author: James B. Metz, MD, MPH, Child Safe Program, University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, 111 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT 05401 (james.metz@uvmhealth.org).

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