| - RISK DECISION # 6 - |
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| Page 730 =========== |
| === RISK ASSESSMENT MODEL === for Child Protection in Ontario |
| Is the Child at risk of future Abuse / Neglect ? : |
| - THE THEORY - |
| Standard ( 6 ) : |
| Eligibility for Service |
| Commentary Cont'd |
| Cont'd from Page 729 |
| - > - > - > - > - > - > - > - > |
| The preceding... offered a brief overview, of the individual, family - and - community protective factors, that serve as a buffer, to some children, in stressful -and/or- abusive situations. However, given the differences, in family structure, child rearing practices, and relationship to community, the degree, to which the above factors apply to " cross-cultural " situations, is unclear. Certainly, some characteristics that apply specifically, to some families, may not be represented, in the above discussion. The following list of protective factors may have special relevance, to cross-cultural situations : |
| Active Extended Family ; relatives, that are active, in the child's life, provide material resources child care, supervision, parenting, emotional support to the child. Religious Affiliation ; belongs to and actively participates, in several group religious experiences Faith and prayer. Strong Racial Identity ; exhibits racial pride, strongly identifies, with ethnic and cultural groups through clubs, organizations, political - and - social change movements. Close Attachment to Ethnic Community ; resides in the ethnic community, with easy access to ethnic resources including social services, merchants, the media (newspaper / television / radio) demontrates a commitment to the ethnic community. Disposition Attributes ; activity level, sociability, intelligence, competence, in communcations (oral and written), locus of control. Personal Attributes ; high self-esteem, academic achievement, assertiveness. Supportive Family Milieu ; cohesiveness, extensive kinship network, non-conflictual relations. External Support System ; involvement or non-involvement, of fathers figure, male role models supportive social environment. |
| Assessing... risk, therefore requires a careful balance, between the facts, which aggravate risk, and those which mitigate against risk, in a given situation. It is incorrect to suggest that risk assessment is a process, which deals with "negative issues" only; in fact, the worker's judgement, with respect to each rating, is informed, by information, related to positive - and - negative aspects, of the individual's - and - family's functioning. |
| It is... extremely important to clarify the family's perception of the issues identified by the risk factors Issues, the CPS/CAS worker may assume to be positive mitigators, of risk, may, in fact, be the opposite For example, the daily visit, of a grandparent, can be a support - or - it can be experienced, as a stressor What is crutial, to the accurate assessment of risk, is how the factor operates, in that family's situation. |
| At any time... when a risk assessment is completed, the CPS/CAS worker may not have complete knowledge, of the child -and- family's functioning but, is at all times required to assess risk, on the basis of the facts, that are available. ( assumes thorough -and- ongoing information gathering ) |
| Inadequate training : |
| - re child protection - re risk management |
| Over-reliance on Mechanical Tools |
| - inadequate data - premature judgement |
| Short Circuiting : |
| Bias Data |
| Lack of Consultation |
| Over Confidence : |
| - re ability to predict future maltreatment |
| Failure to Consider Strengths |
| Failure to review Cultural Considerations |
| Inappropriate and Improper use of Risk Assessment Instrument |
| Inappropriate and/or improper timing considerations |
| * Child Protection Risk Management System, Department of Health and Community Services New Brunswick, 1996, p. 51. |
| There are Potential Sources of Error, in completing a Risk Assessment, which should be guarded against : |
| - re worker's own views and attitudes |