Arizona Department of Child Safety: Policy and Procedure Manual

Arizona Department of Child Safety: Policy and Procedure Manual

Chapter 2: Section 4

Assessment of Child Safety and Risk (CSRA )

Policy

The department shall: promote the safety and protection of children; assess whether any child in the home is in present or impending danger of serious harm; prevent, intervene in and treat abuse and neglect of children; promote the well-being of the child in a permanent home; and coordinate services to strengthen the family. An assessment of child safety and risk (CSRA) shall be completed on all cases where a field investigation is completed. A case cannot be closed when a child has been assessed as unsafe or an active protective action or safety plan is in place.

Procedures
Child Safety and Risk Assessment (CSRA)
The assessment of child safety and risk is initiated during initial contact with the family and is continued throughout the investigation. The purpose of the child safety and risk assessment is to gather sufficient and relevant information to make an informed decision about whether the child is safe or unsafe. A child is unsafe when present danger or impending danger exists.

Present Danger/Protective Action
Upon initial contact with the child and family, the Child Safety Specialist will determine whether any child in the home is in present danger. A child is in present danger when there is an immediate, significant and clearly observable family condition, occurring in the present that has resulted in or is likely to result in serious or severe harm or threat of harm to a child.

If any child in the home is in present danger, the Child Safety Specialist must take an immediate protective action that controls the present danger. This must be done to ensure child safety before any further interviews or assessment can take place. A protective action is an instantaneous, short term, sufficient action that provides a child with responsible adult supervision, and controls the safety threat(s) to allow completion of the Child Safety and Risk Assessment (CSRA). Its purpose is to immediately control present danger.

Examples of present danger may include but are not limited to:

• a child who is abandoned or alone now, and not capable of caring for self or others;
• caregiver is incapacitated due to substance abuse, mental illness, physical impairment, and/or cognitive functioning right now;
• living environment that is hazardous and immediately threatens a child’s safety such as exposed live wiring, manufacturing of drugs (i.e. Meth lab), exposure to extreme weather;
• child presents as malnourished, dehydrated or failure to thrive, requiring immediate medical attention;
• child is actively endangering self or others and caregiver cannot or will not control the child’s behavior;
• evidence of recent sexual abuse, perpetrator currently has access to identified victim, and no protective action by non-offending caregiver;
• injuries such as facial bruises, injuries to the head, or multiple plane injuries, bruising or injuries to a non-ambulatory child, or immersion burns and child is not in a protective environment, such as a hospital;
• domestic violence is actively occurring in the home at the time of initial contact and the child is present;
• at the time of initial contact, the caregiver is subjecting the child to brutal or bizarre punishment such as confined to a cage, tied to an object, locked in a closet, forced feeding, scalding with hot water, burning with cigarettes, etc.;
• evidence of abuse or neglect and the caregiver denies access to or flees with child to avoid DCS contact.

The Child Safety Specialist works with the family to determine what protective action is necessary to control the immediate safety threat (present danger). It is the role of the Child Safety Specialist and supervisor to ensure the protective action is sufficient to control the safety threat.

While it is preferable the family agrees with the protective action, their agreement of the protective action plan is not necessary.

A protective action may include:

• the child remaining in the home with a safety monitor;
• the child remaining in the home while the perpetrator leaves the home;
• the parent placing the child under a Voluntary Placement Agreement, CSO-1043; or
• taking temporary custody of the child.

Consider the least intrusive protective action, given the unique circumstances of the family including the family’s capacity to ensure child safety. If a protective action involves the use of a safety monitor, fully assess the safety monitor’s capacity, willingness and availability to protect the child. The role of the safety monitor is to control and manage the safety threat(s) to the child. The safety monitor must be present when the identified safety threat is occurring. Generally, a safety monitor is not a service provider unless the service provider is present at all times when the safety threat is occurring. Refer to Chapter 2: Section 7 Safety Planning.

Impending Danger/ Collection of CSRA
Once an assessment of present danger is complete, proceed with the CSRA to determine whether any child is unsafe due to impending danger. In addition to the individuals who must be included in Interviews, the following individuals must be included in the analysis and conclusions about impending danger:

• the identified child victim;
• any other child living in the home where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;
• the alleged perpetrator(s);
• the primary caregiver/custodial parent; and
• other adults living in the home (including the spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, significant other, etc.) where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred who have caregiving responsibilities. See below, Assessment of Non-Offending Parent or Caregiver
• the non-custodial parent if he/she has parenting time with the child victim
• other adults living in the child victim's primary home or the non-custodial parent's home if different from the home where the abuse or neglect occurred and if information collected indicates the adult may present a safety threat and/or risk concern to any child(ren) living in the home.

If there is an indication that any of the following children may be victims of abuse or neglect, report the alleged abuse or neglect to the DCS Hotline if it has not already been reported. The CSRA will be completed in relation to the new report by the assigned Child Safety Specialist.

• other children (such as step-children) who frequent the home where the abuse or neglect occurred;
• other children who live in the child victim's primary residence if different from the home where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred;
• other children who live in the non-custodial parent's home if different from the home where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred.

To complete the CSRA, the Child Safety Specialist must gather sufficient, relevant information to determine if the child is safe or unsafe. The quality of the safety assessment is influenced by the quality and sufficiency of the information collected during the initial assessment. This assessment and analysis of information guides the Child Safety Specialist's judgment in determining the child's safety and what, if any, actions should be taken to protect the child

Identify whether there is a safety threat to the child by applying the following safety criteria to the Safety Factors:

• Vulnerable child: Is the child victim unable to protect him or herself or seek protection from others, regardless of the child’s age? Is the child defenseless, exposed to behavior, conditions, or circumstances the child is powerless to manage?
• Out-of-control: Is there an adult in the home who is able to control the identified safety threat to the child victim? Will the safety threat continue without outside intervention? See below, Assessment of Non-Offending Parent or Caregiver.
• Severity: Could the threat cause or result in serious or severe harm (pain, injury, suffering, terror or extreme fear, impairment, or death)?
• Specific Time Frame: Is the threat to the child's safety occurring now or likely to occur within the next 30 days? Could it happen just about any time within the near future – today, tomorrow or during the upcoming month?
• Observable Family Condition: What is the specific behavior, emotion, attitude, perception, or situation by the parent, guardian or custodian that can be seen and described and makes the child victim unsafe? Observable does not include suspicion and gut feeling. It can be clearly described and reported.

Assessment of Risk
When all safety criteria apply to a safety factor, there is a safety threat and the child is unsafe. A safety plan is required (see Safety Planning – Chapter 2: Section 7).

The Child Safety Specialist must also assess risk factors by engaging the parent, guardian or custodian. Identify relevant information about the family’s history and functioning in each domain associated with risk of future maltreatment, including:

• Child vulnerability/self-protection
• Child special needs/behavior problems
• Parenting skills/expectations of child
• Parent empathy, nurturance, bonding
• Parent substance abuse
• Parent mental, emotional, intellectual or physical impairments
• General history of violence
• Domestic Violence in the home/family environment
• Protection of child by non-abusive caregiver
• Parent history of child abuse/neglect as a child
• Parent recognition of problem/motivation to change/level of cooperation
• Economic resources of family
• Family social support system
• Family stress

The assessment of risk must include:

• identification of risk factors;
• identification of strengths the family may build upon to reduce the level of risk;
• determination of whether intervention (family, community resource or DCS intervention) is needed to address risk factors.

Completion and analysis of the Child Safety and Risk Assessment (CSRA) determines:

• present danger, impending danger, or future risk of harm to the child;
• the type of intervention required by a family;
• whether to close or open a case for services;
• the basis for service planning;
• a direct link to the creation of the case plan; and
• the basis to identify required behavioral changes to enable the child to live safely with the parents without DCS involvement;

See the Child Safety and Risk Assessment Practice Guide for additional information on completing the Child Safety and Risk Assessment (CSRA).

Assessment of Non-Offending Parent or Caregiver
It is crucial to assess the non-offending parent or caregiver (who was in the home when the abuse or neglect occurred) when determining whether the child is unsafe. This assessment occurs as part of the present danger and impending danger assessment. The Child Safety Specialist assesses the willingness and ability of the non-offending parent or caregiver to protect the child. This assessment is completed when considering whether anyone in the home including the non-offending parent or caregiver can manage the threats to ensure the child's safety as part of the safety factor analysis (Section III of the CSRA).

The following are examples of family situations which should support the determination that a non-offending parent or caregiver can and will protect the child against impending danger threats. In some situations, more than one of these conditions would be necessary to support and confirm a non-offending parent or caregiver’s capacity to protect. Identify which examples describe the characteristic unique to this person which justifies their ability to now be protective.

• Non-offending parent or caregiver has demonstrated the ability to protect the child in the past while under similar circumstances and family conditions.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver has made appropriate arrangements which have been confirmed to assure the child is not left alone with the maltreating person. This may include having another adult present within the home that is aware of the concerns and is able to protect the child.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver can specifically articulate a plan to protect the child, such as the caregiver leaving when a situation escalates, calling the police in the event the restraining order is violated, etc.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver believes the child’s report of maltreatment and is supportive of the child.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver is physically able to intervene to protect the child.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver does not have significant individual needs which might affect the safety of the child, such as severe depression, lack of impulse control, medical needs, etc.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver has asked, demands, or expects the maltreating adult to leave the household and can assure the separation is maintained effectively.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver has adequate resources necessary to meet the child’s basic needs.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver is capable of understanding the specific threat to the child and the need to protect.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver has adequate knowledge and skill to fulfill caregiving responsibilities and tasks. This may involve considering the non-offending parent or caregiver’s ability to meet any exceptional needs that the child might have.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver is cooperating with the Child Safety Specialist’s efforts to provide services and assess the specific needs of the family.
• There is no precedence for the current maltreatment in respect to type and severity, and the non-offending parent or caregiver demonstrates appropriate concern and intolerance for what occurred.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver is emotionally able to carry out a plan and/or to intervene to protect the child (Non-offending parent or caregiver is not incapacitated by fear of maltreating person).
• Non-offending parent or caregiver has legally separated from maltreating parent or caregiver and has/does demonstrate behavior to suggest he or she will not reunite until circumstance warrants or they are proceeding with divorce action.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver displays concern for the child and the child’s experience and is intent on emotionally protecting the child.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver and child have strong bond and he or she is clear the number one priority is the well-being of the child.
• The Non-offending parent or caregiver consistently expresses belief that the maltreating person is in need of help and that he or she supports the maltreating person getting help. This is the non-offending parent or caregiver’s point of view without being prompted by DCS.
• While the non-offending parent or caregiver may be having a difficult time believing the other person would maltreat the child, he or she describes the child as believable and trustworthy.
• Non-offending parent or caregiver does not place responsibility on the child for the problems of the family.

Explain how the non-offending caregiver is willing and capable to protect the child.

If non-offending parent or caregiver is not able and willing to protect or if the capacity to protect is uncertain, you cannot rely on the parent as the caregiver for the child without a safety monitor.

Assessment of a Child in the Hospital, Incarcerated/Detained or Out-of-Home Care
While a child victim is hospitalized, incarcerated, in detention or in out-of-home care, the CSRA must be conducted based on the child’s return home environment.

Clarifications as to When the CSRA is Not Conducted
The CSRA is completed on DCS cases and some Young Adult Program (YAP) cases only. The CSRA does not need to be completed under the following circumstances:

• Out-of-Home Caregivers – this includes foster, relative, adoptive or non- custodial parent homes unless the caregiver or any member of the household is identified as an alleged perpetrator in a new report.
• Action Requests - Communications that do not require an investigation, but may require an action by DCS. These specific communications are contained in the DCS Response System, Chapter 1: 3 - Prioritizing Reports and Response.
• Border Cases - A case involving a child whose family does not reside within the US and the department’s involvement is limited to returning the child to his/her family in coordination with the Border Patrol and/or INS and the case is being closed.
• False (Malicious) Reports - After investigation, evidence indicates the reporting source knowingly and intentionally made a false (malicious) report, and the investigation results in no identified safety concerns or indication of risk. To determine if the reporting source knowingly and intentionally made a false report and should be referred to the County Attorney, refer to Chapter 2:5 – Substantiating Maltreatment.
• Both parents are deceased, or
• Parental rights have been terminated for both parents.

The CSRA is not completed for the following case types:

• Adoption
• Adoption Subsidy
• Adoption Registry
• Guardianship Subsidy
• ICPC
• DDD Eligibility
• IV-E Eligibility
• Non-DES Eligibility

Timeframes for the Assessment of Safety and Risk
Initial Assessment

Assessment of Present Danger	Completed for every child. If present danger is identified during the initial assessment, a protective action must be completed prior to leaving the child.
Completion of the CSRA	Completed within 45 days or before case closure (whichever occurs first).

In-Home and Out of Home Cases, including voluntary placement and dependency

Assessment of Present Danger	Whenever present danger is identified, a protective action must be completed prior to leaving the child. Assess present danger when a new report is received during the life of a case.
Completion of the CSRA	Completed within 45 days when a new report is received.
Review of the CSRA	When a case is transferred to a new DCS Supervisor/Specialist, within 5 days: Review documentation, Review CSRA and update with the family as needed, and Review sufficiency of safety plan (if applicable) and update as needed.

Documentation
Using the Child Safety and Risk Assessment (CSRA), document the following:

• background information in Section I (Background Information);
• contacts, interviews and observations in Section II. (Interviews with all required parties);
• assessment and identification of present danger in Section III. A (Analysis and conclusion of present danger) and, if applicable, Protective Action (Page 1), CSO-1034A, and Protective Action / Safety Plan Signature Page, CSO-1034C. Give a copy of both documents to the caregiver and, if applicable, the safety monitor. File or scan a copy in the case record;
• assessment and identification of impending danger in Section III. B (Analysis and conclusion of impending danger) and, if applicable, Safety Plan (Page 1), CS0-1034B, and Protective Action / Safety Plan Signature Page, CSO-1034C. Give a copy of both documents to the caregiver and, if applicable, the safety monitor. File or scan a copy in the case record;
• assessment and identification of risk factors and need for interventions in Section III. C (risk identification and need for further intervention); and
• if the child is removed, complete the applicable removal windows in CHILDS.

For Supervisors, document the Clinical Supervision Discussion and approval of the Clinical Supervision Decision in Section IV. (Clinical Supervision Decision)

Forms

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Effective Date: February 6, 2016

Revision History: November 30, 2012; May 31, 2013, July 1, 2013