Across most countries, child welfare involves complex investigative and decision-making processes to assess eligibility for services. This article analyses the sorting process from investigation to service allocation within Swedish child welfare. Data comes from a questionnaire completed by social workers, covering 2123 children across eight child welfare agencies. The findings are discussed in relation to the family service model and the legal and normative pressures it faces. Most children were filtered out without intervention; only one-third received services. The most common issues related to parental ability included abuse, domestic violence, neglect, and adult relational problems. For young children, neglect, abuse, and violence were key factors for receiving services, while for older children, behavioural problems were more prominent. However, child abuse was also common among older children. Interventions mainly focused on home-based support and were typically based on consent. We conclude that, while key elements of the Swedish family service model remain intact, it is increasingly challenged by growing referral volumes and heightened legal and normative demands, particularly concerning youth criminality and children at risk of abuse.