Initial Assessment

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An Initial Assessment is begun on every CPS report that is screened in for an investigation. Using the information found during the assessment period, the worker will determine if there are concerns for the child’s safety, if additional services are needed and if maltreatment occurred.

You can expect that the child welfare professional will:

• Talk with your child
• Talk with you, siblings, and other household members
• Learn about your family and help you provide safety for your children
• Gather information about the suspected abuse or neglect
• Ask questions about your family strengths and needs
• Observe the family home
• Speak with other persons, such as doctors and teachers

 The child welfare professional will then write a report that explains what was done and the information gathered.  

Child welfare professionals have 60 days to complete their assessment. In some cases, it will take less time, and in rare circumstances it can take longer than 60 days. This can be due to case complexity or other unforeseen circumstances. 

For interviews with children, sometimes a forensic interview is conducted. A forensic interview is a fact-finding conversation conducted by a specially-trained Forensic Interviewer.  The interview is designed to provide the child an opportunity to talk about the reason for the interview. The Forensic Interviewer strives to make the child feel as comfortable as possible while gathering information to determine what may have occurred.  Questions are asked in a non-leading manner at pace that is comfortable for the child. 

Forensic interviews minimize the number of times a child is interviewed and limits the number of people who must directly interview a child.

A forensic interview may be completed at a local child advocacy center or at a human services agency if the worker is trained in forensic interviewing. 

County and tribal child welfare agencies strive to keep families together. Most children and families receive services within their home. However, sometimes these services cannot be provided within the home. When this occurs, the child welfare professional will talk with your family to:

• Find a temporary safe place for your child to stay; with relatives or      friends or in a foster home
• Arrange for you to see your child
• Connect you and your child to supportive services with the goal of      reunification

In an emergency, a child may be placed outside your home without permission. A court hearing must be held within 48 hours of when the decision was made to remove your child. At this Temporary Physical Custody (TPC) hearing, the court decides whether your child should remain living outside your home. You will be told of when and where the hearing will be, and you are encouraged to attend to tell the court how you see the situation. 

A protective plan is an immediate, short-term plan to keep the child(ren) safe. 

By signing the plan, you agree to keep your child safe while the worker learns more information. Family, friends, and/or neighbors can be part of the plan. The agency may have other resources available to offer support throughout the Protective Plan. The voluntary Protective Plan keeps the child(ren) safe while keeping families together. Signing the Protective Plan does not mean you agree that your family needs a plan. It just means you agree to follow the plan. 

This plan is put in place while the worker is investigation the allegations. This allows the worker to ensure the child’s safety while the investigation is occurring. 

The protective plan can last up to 60 days while the investigation is occurring.

There are two decisions that are made in an initial assessment - whether a child was maltreated and whether they are safe. 

Maltreatment decision

The determination of whether child maltreatment has occurred (substantiated) or not (unsubstantiated). This finding is not connected to safety decisions and does not determine if services will be offered.

Safety decision

Based on the safety of the child, there are multiple outcomes that can occur:

• Safe - Case Closed: The child welfare professional provides the family      with information on how to access community resources, if needed, and the      case is closed.
• Safe - Case Open with Voluntary Services: The child welfare professional offers voluntary child welfare services to the family and keeps the case open to check in periodically and see if further assistance is needed.
• Unsafe - Case Open with Protective/Safety Plan: The child welfare      professional works with the family to develop a protective or safety plan that helps ensure safety in the home. The family may also be offered      voluntary or court-ordered child welfare services.
• Unsafe - Case Open with an Out-of-Home Placement: If the child welfare      professional determines that a child needs to be removed in order to ensure safety, the child is removed and placed in out-of-home care, preferably with someone they already have a relationship with, such as a relative or family friend. A Child in Need of Protection and Services (CHIPS) order may be filed. Services are provided to the child and family with the goal of reunification. 

The case will then transition to Ongoing Services where a worker will work with the family longer term.