Assessing Child Vulnerabilities 1

Introductions Name Agency and Position What you’d like to learn today 2

B. Introduction to Child Vulnerabilities Child Vulnerabilities: the degree to which a child can avoid or modify the impact of safety threats Describes how a child’s age; physical, intellectual and social development; emotional/behavioral functioning; role in the family; and ability to protect himself contribute to or decrease the likelihood of serious harm 3

Vulnerability to Maltreatment All children are vulnerable to maltreatment Parents/caretakers have the role of protector Some children are more vulnerable to the effects of child maltreatment than others 4

Trauma-Informed Decisions Assessing the impact of past trauma Range of trauma experiences 5 Trauma resources

C. What to Assess Ability to protect self Age Ability to communicate Likelihood of harm given child’s development Provocative behavior Behavioral needs Emotional needs Physical special needs Visibility/access Family composition Child’s role in family Physical appearance, size Resilience, problem solving Prior victimization Ability to recognize abuse/neglect 6

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Child’s Abiity to Protect Self 8

Child’s Age 9

Child’s Ability to Communicate 10

Likelihood of Serious Harm Given Child’s Development 11

Provocativeness of Child’s Behavior or Temperament 12

Child’s Behavioral Needs 13

Child’s Emotional Needs 14

Child’s Physical Special Needs 15

Visibility/Access 16

Family Composition 17

Child’s Role in the Family 18

Physical Appearance, Size, Robustness 19

Resilience, Problem- Solving Skills 20

Prior Victimization 21

Ability to Recognize Abuse/Neglect 22

Compounded Vulnerability 1. Vulnerability as it effects the safety threat 2. Children within the same family 23

Parental Protection Demands on a parent Type and degree of vulnerabilities Protective capacities 24

D. When to Assess Ongoing, continual, at every contact and home visit Particularly notice during: Investigation Pre/post placement, visitation Family group meetings Change of custody 25

26 Ongoing assessment at every contact Formal assessment at decision-making points Screening at intake Safety Assessment Actuarial Risk Assessment Strengths/Needs Assessment Case Reviews Reunification Case Closure D. When to Assess: A Continuum

D. When to Assess At formal, decision-making points including the: Safety Assessment and Plan 27

D. When to Assess At formal, decision-making points including the: Family Assessment 28

D. When to Assess At formal, decision-making points including the: Case Review 29

D. When to Assess At formal, decision-making points including the: Reunification Assessment 30

The Importance of Documentation Where and How? 31

E. Case Examples and Practice Sean and Carrie Melanie, Gina, Terry, Annie, George, and Georgia Bart 32

F. Resources and Links Gathering Assessment Information: Parents and family members Teachers Neighbors and friends Medical professionals Additional resources 33

Thank You 34 CAPMIS Tools