Safety and risk assessments shall be completed by the Child Welfare Case Management Provider (CWCMP) on an ongoing basis, formally and informally, throughout the life of all cases and at critical times.
For definitions of danger, risk, and safety, please refer to PPM2300 Defining Danger, Risk, and Safety.
A. Critical times in the case include, but are not limited to:
1. New allegations of abuse or neglect assigned to DCF, in conjunction with DCF staff;
2. A change in the family condition causing a worry that danger, risk or both could be present for the child;
3. A critical incident, as defined in PPM 0510;
4. Changes in family structure including, but not limited to, adults moving into or out of the home or having caregiving responsibilities, birth of baby, or children moving into or out of the home;
5. Change in household situations including, but not limited to, loss of income or employment, loss of critical services or medical coverage, family member’s disability due to illness or injury, or family moving to a different home, region, or state;
6. Increased substance use, misuse, or relapse by a family member or caregiver;
7. Changes in family member’s mental health condition that may pose a threat to children’s well-being;
8. Incident of violence or domestic violence in the home;
9. Known weapons in the home;
10. New pet that may pose a potential threat to the children;
11. Loss of adequate housing;
12. Transitioning the family from intensive services to less intensive services while receiving Family Preservation Services;
13. New indications of child with danger to self or self-harming behaviors per PPM 2115;
14. A significant change in visitation structure;
15. Upon reunification;
16. Upon any change in placement;
17.Youth is exhibiting behaviors that could lead to juvenile offender charges related to physical violence, aggression, damage to property or use of life-threatening drugs;
18. New or increased sexually acting out behaviors;
19. Prior to case closure.
B. Risk assessments, used to understand the presence of both risk factors and protective factors to inform areas of focus for CWCMP support, shall include the following:
1. Parent or caregiver risk factors and protective factors;
2. Family risk factors and protective factors;
3. Child risk factors and protective factors;
4. Environmental risk factors and protective factors.
C. Safety assessments, used to identify immediate safety threats and existing protective factors to determine whether children are safe, safe with a plan, or unsafe, shall include the following factors:
1. Plausible threat/likelihood of serious physical harm;
2. Sexual abuse is suspected or substantiated and the (alleged) perpetrator continues to have access to the child;
3. Caregiver actions or omissions have caused or are likely to cause serious impairment of a child’s social, emotional, or intellectual functioning;
4. Caregiver is unwilling, or unable, to meet child’s needs for food, clothing, or shelter including where living conditions are hazardous and imminently threatening;
5. Caregiver is unable or refuses to seek treatment for a child’s medical condition, or to administer prescribed treatment for a diagnosed medical condition that poses a serious threat to the child’s physical health;
6. Caregiver has not, cannot or will not provide supervision necessary to protect child from potentially serious harm;
7. Caregiver has given up or deserted a child with stated or apparent intention to not resume the relationship;
8. Caregiver strengths and protective factors.
D. Types of Safety and Risk Assessments
1. Formal Safety and Risk Assessment
a. Formal safety and risk assessments occur when tools or instruments are completed to assess safety and risk factors and guide decisions. Formal safety and risk assessment tools are based on empirical data, research, or evidence-based or based consensus modeling.
2. Informal Safety and Risk Assessment
a. Informal safety and risk assessments occur when information is gathered, discussed, and considered during each contact with the child and family. Safety and risk factors listed in B. and C. above, Appendix 2F, and Appendix 2H may be used as guides to assist in gathering sufficient information to informally assess safety and risk. The CWCMP case manager shall ensure documentation includes the informal safety and risk assessment and conclusion(s) for each contact with the child.
E. Human Trafficking Assessment
1. If a child is suspected to be a victim of Human Trafficking an assessment shall be completed to determine safety, placement, treatment and service needs for the child using an assessment tool or instrument. A summary of the assessment results shall be provided to the court.