RISK DECISION # 6
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===   RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL   ===
for Child Protection in Ontario
DISCLAIMER
Is the Child at risk fo future Abuse / Neglect ? :
- THE THEORY -
Standard ( 6 ) :
Eligibility for Service
O V E R V I E W
Cont'd from Page 726
RISK DECISION # 6 - Details - >
Where...      further steps are required to complete a full protection investigation beyond 30 days from receipt of the referral, report, information, or where it is determined that the child is in need of protection the CPS/CAS worker shall complete:
- >
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a risk assessment and risk analysis
a plan to address any immediate risk issues
Within...   (30) days of receipt of the referral, report, information by the CPS/CAS.
INTRODUCTION
Standard ( 6 ) :
Eligibility for Service
Risk Assessment...          is a complex analysis, of the interaction, among risk-related elements, an identification - and - examination of a family's perceptions and strengths -and- any other significant case circumstances that may affect family functioning.  The analysis should help evaluate the likelihood that a child may be abused, or neglected, in the future.  It should also help determine what services are needed if any, to reduce identified risks, build upon family strengths - and - resolve identified problems.
In contrast...         to the time-specified - and - time-limited focus of, the " Safety Assessment ", the " Risk Assessment ", is intended to support the worker's judgement, about predicting the level of risk, of harm, to the child(ren) over the time period, through to the next scheduled reassessment of risk.
While...    the paramount purpose, of any child protection assessment, is to address, the best interests protection and well-being of the child(ren), the assessment must consider the strengths and needs of the child(ren) and family.  The CFSA states that, "...while parents may need help, in caring for their children help should give support, to the autonomy -and- integrity, of the family unit -and-, wherever possible, be provided on the basis, of mutual consent..."  Family strengths, and the potential for the family and/or the community to provide for the needs of the child and family, are critical elements, of developing a Plan of Service, that will protect the child and reduce risk, and the plan developed, in partnership with the family and other potential resources, the opprotunities for change can be more easily identified.
The... family's perception of the risk elements, and their ability to recognize their deficits and strengths is of major importance.
The...   CPS/CAS worker begins to gather information, related to the assessment, of the risk, of future abuse -and/or- neglect, of the child(ren), from the time the initial referral, report, information, is received  During the investigation of the specific protection concerns - or - allegations, the child protection worker gathers thorough information, to inform the decision, about whether or not those concerns or allegations can be verified, doing so, within the context, of the factors, correlated to a risk, of future  abuse/neglect of the child(ren).
Risk Analysis...   requires the CPS worker to analyse -and- interpret the ratings of the risk elements The worker lists all the elements, with high ratings, all the elements with low ratings, and all those where the information is unkown.  Then, the worker describes how the interaction of those elements intensifies or mitigates the risk of the child(ren), and makes a judgement about the, " Overall Risk Rating ".
After...   considering all of the risk ratings, interactions between elements, and information still needed the worker priorizes the risk issues, to be brought forward to - and - addressed, in the "Plan of Service" ( Risk Decision # 8 ).  Since the assessment, of risk of harm, to a specific child, in a specific context, is extremely complicated -and- depends on the interplay, of many variables, the, Risk Analysis, is critical to informing an appropriate - and - realistic Plan of Service ( Risk Decision #8 ).
Where...    the child is an Indian - or - Native person, CPS/CAS Societies should encourage the family to involve, a band representative - or - an appropriate, " Native Child and Family Service Agency ", in the development of the plan.
It... is important to ensure that the assessment is sensitive to any special needs -and- the ethno-cultural indentity, of the child(ren) - and - family.