Appendix 2325: Concluding Whether a Child is "At Risk" and Associated Risk Findings
CPS September 2002
The terms "at risk" and "not at risk" are conclusions based on the risk assessment regarding whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the child will be abused or neglected in the foreseeable future. CPS may remove a child from the home or provide family-based safety services after the investigation if the child is found to be "at risk." CPS closes the case after the investigation if the child is found to be "not at risk." The "not at risk" category has two subparts to differentiate between situations in which the risk in the home is controlled or there is no risk in the home.
Risk Conclusion: "At Risk"
Risk Finding |
Definition of Risk Finding by Risk Conclusion |
|---|---|
Risk Indicated |
The worker must conclude the family's children are "at risk" when: · Risk factors have been identified in the family's current situation or history, and · The family is not able or willing to use family and community resources to deal with the risk factors in a manner that will ensure the safety of the children for up tothe three to twelve months after the investigation. |
Risk Conclusion: "Not at Risk"
| Risk Finding | Definition of Risk Finding by Risk Conclusion |
|---|---|
Factors Controlled |
The worker must conclude the family's children are "not at risk" and that risk factors are controlled when: · Risk factors were identified in the family's current situation or history, but · The family appears willing and able, through use of family and community resources, to deal with risk factors in their lives in such a manner as to ensure the safety of the children for up to the next three to twelve months after the investigation. |
No Significant Factors |
The worker must conclude the family's children are "not at risk" and that there are "no significant factors" when no risk factors were identified in the family's current situation or history. |
Risk Assessment Not Conducted
A Risk Assessment is not conducted in the following kinds of investigations:
· The investigation was closed administratively without investigation of the allegations or assessment of risk.
· The persons involved in the allegations moved and could not be located before the worker could conclude whether abuse or neglect occurred or risk was present in the home.
· The investigation was conducted in a school and did not involve the child's family or household.
· The family had only one child, who died.