safety, risk, reunification, and strengths and needs...

Safety, Risk, Reunification, and Strengths and Needs Assessments CAT Print Slides/Script

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Slide 1 - Welcome

Audio Script:

Welcome to the Indiana Department of Child Services online training session. This training is intended to provide a high level overview of the Safety, Risk, Reunification, and Strength and Needs Assessments that go into effect on June 1, 2011. This session will discuss revisions and additions to the tools and policy. Therefore, it will be imperative for you to read all of the chapter policies in their entirety.


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Slide 2 - Overview

Audio Script:

In this training, you will learn about the 5 new assessment tools:

Initial Safety Assessment,

Initial Family Risk Assessment,

Indiana Caregiver Strengths and Needs Assessment,

Safety and Risk Reassessments, and;

Reunification Reassessments.

The tools will help to address the safety, stability, permanency, and well-being of children under DCS care and supervision. The current Strength and Needs Assessment in ICWIS will be deactivated. Structured decision making is encouraged. The policy and tools will be effective June 1, 2011.


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Slide 3 - Safety vs. Risk 1-0

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It is important to understand the differences between safety and risk, as knowledge of what to assess while completing each tool is essential. Let’s take a moment to examine the differences between safety and risk.


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Slide 4 - Safety vs. Risk 1-1

Audio Script:

Safety Assessments assess the child’s present danger, and the interventions currently needed to protect the child. Risk Assessments assess the likelihood of future maltreatment, and the family’s risk level.


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Slide 5 - Initial Safety Assessment 1-0

Audio Script:

Chapter 4, section 18, discusses completing an Initial and Subsequent Safety Assessment. This tool will replace the current Safety Assessment tool.


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Audio Script:

An Initial Safety Assessment must be completed within 24 hours of the initiation of every assessment, and a Subsequent Assessment when there are changes in family circumstances, information known about the family, the ability to use protective factors to mitigate safety threats, and/or at the point of a critical case juncture. The child’s safety must continually be reassessed based on the most current information available by completing Subsequent Safety Assessments during the assessment phase.


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Audio Script:

This is the new Safety Assessment tool. This tool assesses the child’s present dangers. Incidents that occurred previously are not included during this assessment. The new tool allows safety assessments to be completed for more than one household. For example, an initial assessment can be completed for the mother, and an initial assessment can be completed for the father. The households can be selected from the drop down option titled Household Name. The assessment type selected can either be initial or subsequent. This tool is completed during the assessment phase. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Protective Capacities, or factors, section is a new section of the Safety Assessment. This section is used to determine if Protective Capacities can mitigate the safety threats. If no safety threats are present, this section does not need to be completed. The Safety response section includes actions taken to specifically mitigate any identified safety threat. This should address immediate concerns, rather than long term changes. If no safety threats are present, this section does not need to be completed. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

On the safety decision page, you will be asked to identify the appropriate decision, based on the score after completing the initial or subsequent safety assessment. If no safety threats exist, consider recommending assessment closure with supervisor approval.


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Audio Script:

The information on the Safety Decision page will auto-populate based on your answers in the assessment regarding safety threats, safety responses, and any other information known about the case. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Slide 11 - Initial Family Risk Assessment 1-0

Audio Script:

Chapter 4, Section 23, discusses the Initial Family Risk Assessment tool. This tool will replace the current Risk Assessment tool.


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Audio Script:

The Initial Family Risk Assessment will be completed prior to the Child and Family Team Meeting, on substantiated assessments, no later than 30 days after the date of the assessment. This tool assesses the future probability of both abuse and neglect on all substantiated assessments. Do not conduct an Initial Family Risk Assessment to help arrive at a finding of substantiated or unsubstantiated. As the Family Case Manager, you should discuss the results of the Initial Family Risk Assessment with the Child and Family Team, to assist in developing a plan to reduce the risk level by thoroughly identifying and considering the family’s strengths, needs, and informal supports. This tool should not be used for institutional assessments.


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Audio Script:

The Risk Assessment section has minor additions which would assist with identifying the future probability of maltreatment. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Risk Assessment tool rates a number of risk factors including the number of prior assessments. This will include both substantiated and unsubstantiated cases. History from prior states are also required, if applicable. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Slide 15 - Indiana Caregiver Strengths and Needs Assessment 1-0

Audio Script:

Chapter 5, Section 16, is a new section which assesses the strengths and needs of the caregivers individually.


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Audio Script:

The Indiana Department of Child Services will engage the Child and Family Team to assist in determining the appropriate services for the parent, guardian, or custodian, using the Indiana Caregiver Strength and Needs Assessment. The questions on this assessment are the Caregiver and Family Module questions from the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessments (CANS). Complete the Indiana Caregiver Strengths and Needs Assessment to identify the strengths and needs of the parent, guardian, or custodian, for substantiated assessments, and during the ongoing Child in Need of Services case, at least once every 180, and address each need rated 2 or 3 in the Case Plan. Additionally, any need rated a 3 requires immediate attention. If parental rights have been terminated, do not complete this assessment.


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Audio Script:

The Indiana Caregiver Strengths and Needs Assessment tool is completed via hardcopy. This form will be available in the DCS Policy Chapter 5, Section 16, Indiana Caregiver Strengths and Needs, under Chapter 5 Forms and Tools, and via the Indiana Commission on Public Records website. Roll your mouse cursor over each section of the form to view that section in detail, and then click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Slide 18 - Safety and Risk Reassessments (In Home) 1-0

Audio Script:

Chapter 7, Section 11, Safety and Risk Reassessments (In Home), reassesses the safety and risk on all open cases where children remained in the home, or have been returned home to evaluate a families progress toward a case plan goal.


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Slide 19 - Safety and Risk Reassessments (In-Home) 1-1

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Safety and Risk Reassessments (In Home), will be conducted at least every 180 days on all open on-going cases where family preservation services are provided. The Safety and Risk Reassessments tool should be completed sooner, if there are new circumstances or new information that would affect safety and risk, or during critical case junctures. During a Child and Family Team Meeting, DCS will discuss the results of the Safety and Risk Reassessments with the Child and Family Team to assist in developing a plan to address the safety threats, identify protective factors, and reduce the risk level by thoroughly identifying and considering the family’s strengths, needs, and informal supports.


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Audio Script:

The Safety and Risk Reassessments (In Home) screen, permits a new assessment to be completed, and displays previously completed assessments. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Safety section of the Safety and Risk Reassessment tool should be used for open cases which a child is in the home, and new information or circumstances require that the safety of the child be assessed. The safety assessment should be used to determine whether the child may remain in the home, with or without protective interventions. If any safety threats exist, the case must remain open until safety threats are resolved.


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Audio Script:

This is a new tool. In ICWIS, the ongoing Family Case Manager will have the ability to complete a Safety and Risk Reassessment on in home cases during the ongoing phase. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Risk Reassessment section of the Safety and Risk Reassessment (In Home) tool helps determine whether the case should remain open, or be closed. For cases that will remain open, update the Case Plan based on current strengths and needs.


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Audio Script:

This is the Risk portion of the Safety and Risk Reassessment tool. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Slide 25 - Reunification Reassessments (Out of Home) 1-0

Audio Script:

Chapter 8, Section 44, Reunification Reassessments (Out of Home) includes a Risk Reassessment, Visitation Plan Evaluation, Reunification Safety Assessment, Placement Permanency Plan Guidelines, and Recommendation Summary, on all open cases where at least 1 child is placed in substitute care.


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Audio Script:

The Reunification Reassessments tool will be used to structure critical case management decisions for children in placement who have a goal of reunification by routinely monitoring critical case factors that affect goal achievement, helping to structure the case review process, and expediting permanency for children in substitute care. Reunification Reassessments will be conducted at least every 180 days, and prior to completing an updated Case Plan. Reunification Reassessments will also be conducted when reunification is recommended, when a change in the permanency planning goal is identified, and sooner if there are new circumstances or information that affect risk.


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Audio Script:

The Reunification Reassessments proposes recommendations like returning a child to the removal household or to another household with a legal right to placement, temporarily maintaining out of home placement, or terminating reunification services and implementing a different permanency plan.


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Audio Script:

The Risk Reassessment for Reunification section will be completed during the ongoing phase for any child placed out of the home. The Family Case Manager will have the ability to select which household to reassess. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Visitation Plan Evaluation for Reunification section is where the Family Case Manager will rate the quantity and quality of parent and child visits, and calculate the compliance with the visitation plan, and in determining whether visitation is acceptable or unacceptable. The override function is available for Family Case Managers to use with supervisory approval. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Safety Reassessment for Reunification rates the caregiver that the child will be reunified with. The new tool allows safety reassessments for reunification to be completed for more than one household. If risk level is low or moderate, and the caregiver has attained an acceptable level of compliance with the visitation plan, complete a Reunification Safety Assessment. Otherwise go to the Placement Permanency Plan guidelines section. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Placement Permanency Plan for Reunification includes a Recommendation Tree used to guide the Family Case Manager in making a case recommendation to expedite permanency. Follow the tree using case specific information to get to the three proposed recommendations, which are Reunify, Change Permanency Plan Goal, or Maintain Out of Home Care. Staff the proposed recommendation with your supervisor. The recommendations are suggestions, and can be overridden with supervisory approval. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Audio Script:

The Results page is where the Family Case Manager can enter data to bring all of the results of each tool in 1 place. The Results Screen will exist in the Assessment Module, and in Case Management. The Results screen displays the results of the Safety Decision, Risk Decision, the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), Placement Recommendation, and the Caregiver Strengths and Needs. The Results page in Case Management will be similar, and include the recommendations from the CANS, the Caregiver Strengths and Needs, and based on the placement of the child, the Safety and Risk Reassessment (In Home), or the Reunification Reassessments (Out of Home) recommendations. Click continue when you are ready to proceed.


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Slide 38 - Congratulations

Audio Script:

Congratulations! You have completed the Safety, Risk, Reunification, and Strengths and Needs Assessments Computer Assisted Training. If you have any additional questions regarding these policies, please contact either your supervisor, director, or you may email related questions to DCS Policy, at [email protected]. Thank you.

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