ABSTRACT
This chapter shows a critical sociotechnical analysis of an information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure meant to stimulate collaboration in the Dutch field of child welfare: the Child Index'. Collaboration and providing care go hand in hand. Care for children is particularly provided in collaborative ways. Deepening expertise and the resulting fragmentation of care practices require more and better collaboration. The in-depth, semi-structured interviews presented several comparable themes to all respondents, including experiences with the Child Index, multidisciplinary collaboration, professional responsibility, chain coordination, privacy, role of parents, process of implementation, role of policy and politics. The Dutch Child Index is an early warning' electronic information infrastructure an ICT tool which is intended to stimulate early identification of children at risk', multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination of care. The chapter examines which lessons can be drawn regarding the role of the Child Index for collaboration in public youth care and the value of script-based analyses in studying collaboration practices in general.
