assessing child safety the seventeen safety threats central to the core mission
TRANSCRIPT
Assessing Child SafetyThe Seventeen Safety Threats
Central to the Core Mission
Competencies• Ability to complete a safety
assessment by identifying specific safety threats and determining safety threshold
• Ability to identify family developmental stages and everyday family management tasks that interrupt family functioning and create safety threats
Child Safety Framework
Informs and guides child safety decisions throughout the life of a case.
Provides precise language and clear definitions.
Strengthens child safety assessmentsand planning.
Guides appropriate placement decisions.
Child Safety Framework
Gathering Information to determine if Danger Exists
1. What is the nature and extent of maltreatment?
2. What surrounding circumstances accompany the maltreatment?
3. How does the child/children function on a daily basis?
4. How does the parent/caregiver discipline the child?
5. What are the overall parenting and child care practices?
6. How does the parent/caregiver manage his/her own life on a daily basis?
The likelihood (chance, potential, prospect) for parenting behavior
that is harmful and destructive to a child’s cognitive, social, emotional and/or physical development and those with parenting responsibility are unwilling or unable to behave
differently.
Maltreatment
of
Safe Child
Children are considered safe when there are no present danger or
impending danger threats or the caregiver’s protective capacities control all known safety threats.
Definition:
Protective Capacities
Behavioral, cognitive and emotional characteristics that can specifically and directly be associated with a person’s
ability and willingness to care and keep a child safe.
Definition:
Unsafe Child
Children are considered unsafe when they are vulnerable to present or
impending danger and caregivers are unable or unwilling to provide
protection.
Definition:
Immediate and significantClearly observableOccurring in the presentChild MUST be protected from thepresent dangerChild may or may not need ongoing protection – Assess for Impending Danger
Present Danger
Impending Danger
Parenting behavior that is harmful and destructive to a child’s cognitive, social, emotional or physical development that is likely to occur in the immediate or near future that could result in one or more of the following outcomes:
Serious or severe harm
Injury requiring medical attention
Life endangering illness
Death
Definition:
Child Safety Framework
Safety Threshold
In order to determine if a safety threat exists ALL of these five criteria must be met:
1. Severe consequences to a child2. Immediate or will occur in the near
future3. Vulnerable child in relation to the
safety threat4. Out of control5. Behaviors, conditions, etc., are
specific, observable and clearly understood
1. The family/facility situation results in no adults in the home/facility performing parenting duties and responsibilities that assure child’s safety.
2. The family/facility situation is that the living/child care arrangement(s) seriously endanger the child’s physical health.
3. Caregiver(s) are acting (behaving) violently or dangerously and the behaviors affect child safety.
Washington Safety Threats
4. There has been an incident of domestic violence that affects child safety.
If “Yes”, complete the questions below:
The domestic violence perpetrator has caused serious harm or threats of harm against the adult victim/caregiver of the child.
The domestic violence perpetrator has seriously harmed or threatened serious harm to the child.
The level of violence and/or threats towards either the adult victim or child is increasing so that serious harm is likely to occur.
There are other indications of increased dangers from the domestic violence perpetrator such as suicide threats or attempts, substance abuse or threats with weapons.
Washington Safety Threats
5. Caregiver(s) will not or cannot control their behavior and their behavior affects child safety.
6. Caregiver(s) perceives child in extremely negative terms
Washington Safety Threats
7. Caregiver(s) do not have or do not use resources necessary to meet the child’s immediate basic needs which present an immediate threat of serious harm to a child.
8. Caregivers’ attitudes, emotions and behavior are such that they are threatening to severely harm a child or are fearful they will maltreat the child or request placement.
Washington Safety Threats
9. Caregiver(s) intend(ed) to seriously hurt the child.
10.Caregiver(s) lack the parenting knowledge, skills, or motivation necessary to assure a child’s safety.
Washington Safety Threats
11.Caregiver(s) overtly rejects CA intervention, refuses access to a child, or there is some indication that the caregiver(s) will flee.
12.Caregiver(s) are not meeting, cannot meet or will not meet the child’s exceptional physical, emotional, medical, or behavioral needs.
Washington Safety Threats
13.Caregiver(s) cannot or will not explain child’s injuries or maltreating condition(s) or explanation is not consistent with the facts.
14.A child has serious physical injuries or serious physical conditions resulting from maltreatment.
Washington Safety Threats
15.A child demonstrates serious emotional symptoms, self-destructive behavior and/or lack of behavioral control that results in provoking dangerous reactions in caregivers.
16. A child is extremely fearful of the home/facility situation or people within the home/facility.
17.Child sexual abuse is suspected, has occurred, or circumstances suggest sexual abuse is likely to occur.
Washington Safety Threats
“Risk” versus “Safety Threats”Risk is concerned with… Safety is concerned with…
Whether a family is more or less likely to have another incident of abuse or neglect without agency intervention
Current or impending dangerous family conditions and behaviors
The probability of future maltreatment on a continuum from low to high
Assessment that the child could suffer severe effects from the conditions in the family
Characteristics of family functioning Family conditions that meet the safety threshold
Current and historical information, patterns, and behaviors
Specific behavior of the parents to a child’s safety now or in the near-future
Family conditions and behaviors are associated with future maltreatment
Family conditions and behaviors that are currently out-of-control
Evaluation of conditions and behaviors that may need services and treatment
Conditions and behaviors that require control and management
A limited number of validated characteristics that are related to the likelihood of future abuse or neglect
A limited number of specific factors threatening child safety
Dad is depressed. He is reluctant about taking his medication because it makes him feel “out of it.” He can’t stand his job; doesn’t see how things will be different; has little energy to spend time with the children. Dad is inconsistent in providing some meals but the children are generally fed. Children go to school dirty and tired because the Dad is inconsistent about cleaning their clothes and getting them to bed.
Risk or Safety Threat?
A three-year-old child in relative care is found wandering on a busy street and the relative’s whereabouts are unknown.
Risk or Safety Threat?
Mother has two children, ages 2 and 6. The children were placed last year when the older child had bruises around his face, up and down his back, and required surgery to remove his spleen caused by a blow to his abdomen. Children were returned after the mother stopped drinking and was able to show utilization of skills learned in parenting instruction. She stopped using corporal punishment. Mother has relapsed and the older child reports that she yells a lot at both the children and spanks them hard.
Risk or Safety Threat?
A 14-year-old boy in special education classes comes to school with redness and bruising on his jaw and cheek. He tells the teacher that his father hit him last night. He says that his father hits him a lot and has been telling the boy that he likes to fight him. The boy says that usually he doesn’t mind but this time his dad hit him all over his head “really hard” and that he doesn’t want to go home.
Risk or Safety Threat?
Children in Licensed and Unlicensed Care
When children are determined to be unsafe in licensed or unlicensed care, children are removed.
CA is responsible for the safety of children and this responsibility cannot be delegatedto others.
Protective actions, safety planning and continuous safety management are the strategies used by CA to keep children safe.
Responsibility for Safety
Case Consultation Process
Who is in the family?What family issues brought this case to our
attention? What are the safety threats?
What are the individual issues?
What are the family strengths and skills? Protective factors?
Do we have a consensus about direction?
Do we have action plans in place yet? What is the safety plan?