3.4 Definitions

In explaining the model of assessment, pertinent terms need to be defined:

Term

Assessment Definition of Term

Maltreatment

"Child maltreatment is a symptom of underlying family conditions. It is expressed through caregiver-child interaction in which the child is physically, emotionally and/or sexually treated in such a manner that the child's emotional, cognitive and/or physical development is or will be impaired and the caregivers are unwilling or unable to behave differently." (Calica and Morton, 1995, p. 21)

Safety/safe

The determination that a child in a household or in custodial care is not in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future. In order for a child to be safe and his/her needs adequately met, threats to safety must be controlled.

Safety plan

A voluntary plan developed whenever a worker observes that a child is in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future. The plan must be developed with the family members and signed by all parties involved in it. The family must be informed of the consequences of violating the safety plan. The safety plan is documented on the CERAP.

Risk

The likelihood of any degree of longer-term future harm or maltreatment. Risk does not predict when the future harm might occur but rather the likelihood of it happening at all.

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Term

Assessment Definition of Term

Risk factors

Those factors that are associated with conditions of risk. These factors are divided into four categories: child factors, caretaker factors, parenting factors and family functioning factors. Factors under each of these categories will be described later in this section.

Procedures 300, Appendix G, p. 2, provides a comparison between risk and safety:

Safety is bet understood when it is compared to risk. Safety and risk of children are determined by the consideration of behavior, condition and accessibility of the child(ren) and the persons who have contact with the child(ren). Safety is a subset of the broader concept of risk, therefore all factors which apply to safety also apply to risk. However, not all risk factors apply to safety because safety is a form of risk that is more precisely defined or specialized.

Safety concerns are restricted to the essential criteria of "immediacy and degree of harm." Since risk allows a broader concept for evaluation of the family, safety concerns are depicted within the broader meaning of risk. The purpose of the broader area of risk is not control, but rather to decrease the risk of future maltreatment and resolve problems that cause risk. Safety factors are to be controlled and risk factors are to be resolved or reduced.

Underlying conditions

Certain caretaker conditions are defined as being particularly significant because, when present, they exacerbate the effect of other risk factors. These conditions, if not treated or managed, may create threats to the child's safety. Sometimes even if treatment or managed, they create long-term risks to the child's continued safety. Termed "underlying conditions, they are as follows:

Mental illness

Substance abuse

History of sex abuse

Developmental disabilities

Domestic violence

The Risk Assessment Protocol contains specialty indicators for the underlying conditions for both children and adults. The indicators are used as part of the risk assessment. The CPSW or permanency worker uses the indicators to determine whether to refer the child or adult for a further assessment to determine the presence of any of the conditions listed.

Worker

This term as used herein may refer to either the child protective services worker or the permanency worker, depending on the stage of the assessment

Initial Assessment

The assessment conducted by the permanency worker within 30 days of case opening. A focused information-gathering driven by the risk and safety issues as a result of the maltreatment incident within this particular family. The initial assessment is more fully described in Section 3.6.8 and Appendix B.

Comprehensive Assessment

The assessment conducted by the permanency worker within 45 days of case opening. The components of the comprehensive assessment are described in Section 3.6.9.

Term	Assessment Definition of Term
Maltreatment	"Child maltreatment is a symptom of underlying family conditions. It is expressed through caregiver-child interaction in which the child is physically, emotionally and/or sexually treated in such a manner that the child's emotional, cognitive and/or physical development is or will be impaired and the caregivers are unwilling or unable to behave differently." (Calica and Morton, 1995, p. 21)
Safety/safe	The determination that a child in a household or in custodial care is not in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future. In order for a child to be safe and his/her needs adequately met, threats to safety must be controlled.
Safety plan	A voluntary plan developed whenever a worker observes that a child is in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future. The plan must be developed with the family members and signed by all parties involved in it. The family must be informed of the consequences of violating the safety plan. The safety plan is documented on the CERAP.
Risk	The likelihood of any degree of longer-term future harm or maltreatment. Risk does not predict when the future harm might occur but rather the likelihood of it happening at all.

Term	Assessment Definition of Term
Risk factors	Those factors that are associated with conditions of risk. These factors are divided into four categories: child factors, caretaker factors, parenting factors and family functioning factors. Factors under each of these categories will be described later in this section. Procedures 300, Appendix G, p. 2, provides a comparison between risk and safety: Safety is bet understood when it is compared to risk. Safety and risk of children are determined by the consideration of behavior, condition and accessibility of the child(ren) and the persons who have contact with the child(ren). Safety is a subset of the broader concept of risk, therefore all factors which apply to safety also apply to risk. However, not all risk factors apply to safety because safety is a form of risk that is more precisely defined or specialized. Safety concerns are restricted to the essential criteria of "immediacy and degree of harm." Since risk allows a broader concept for evaluation of the family, safety concerns are depicted within the broader meaning of risk. The purpose of the broader area of risk is not control, but rather to decrease the risk of future maltreatment and resolve problems that cause risk. Safety factors are to be controlled and risk factors are to be resolved or reduced.
Underlying conditions	Certain caretaker conditions are defined as being particularly significant because, when present, they exacerbate the effect of other risk factors. These conditions, if not treated or managed, may create threats to the child's safety. Sometimes even if treatment or managed, they create long-term risks to the child's continued safety. Termed "underlying conditions, they are as follows: Mental illness Substance abuse History of sex abuse Developmental disabilities Domestic violence The Risk Assessment Protocol contains specialty indicators for the underlying conditions for both children and adults. The indicators are used as part of the risk assessment. The CPSW or permanency worker uses the indicators to determine whether to refer the child or adult for a further assessment to determine the presence of any of the conditions listed.
Worker	This term as used herein may refer to either the child protective services worker or the permanency worker, depending on the stage of the assessment
Initial Assessment	The assessment conducted by the permanency worker within 30 days of case opening. A focused information-gathering driven by the risk and safety issues as a result of the maltreatment incident within this particular family. The initial assessment is more fully described in Section 3.6.8 and Appendix B.
Comprehensive Assessment	The assessment conducted by the permanency worker within 45 days of case opening. The components of the comprehensive assessment are described in Section 3.6.9.