1. Assessing Child Vulnerabilities 1

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 7

8. Child’s Abiity to Protect Self 8

9. Child’s Age 9

10. Child’s Ability to Communicate 10

11. Likelihood of Serious Harm Given Child’s Development 11

12. Provocativeness of Child’s Behavior or Temperament 12

13. Child’s Behavioral Needs 13

14. Child’s Emotional Needs 14

15. Child’s Physical Special Needs 15

16. Visibility/Access 16

17. Family Composition 17

18. Child’s Role in the Family 18

19. Physical Appearance, Size, Robustness 19

20. Resilience, Problem- Solving Skills 20

21. Prior Victimization 21

22. Ability to Recognize Abuse/Neglect 22

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

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

25. 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. 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

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

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

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

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

31. The Importance of Documentation Where and How? 31

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

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

34. Thank You 34 CAPMIS Tools