Safety Assessments

1. Safety Assessments

2. Tasks for the Group • Identify Research to Support Safety Assessments. • What are other states doing? • Studies that show state instruments are valid and reliable? • Have states looked at the “process” or time involved with safety assessments. • Has safety process effected “face to face” time with families. • Do states have outcomes on their research?

3. Why Risk and Safety Assessments? Research shows workers: • May ignore the probability of the abuse. • Could be overconfident in our skills. • Could have difficulty weighing all the factors. • Have been shown to make different decisions under the same conditions. • Are reluctant to revise their assessments once made. • Display skepticism over new information. (Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

4. Two Major Types of Safety Assessments • Consensus Based Models (Included are only those models used in more than one location). • Child at Risk Field (CARF) Action for Child Protection • Washington Risk Assessment Matrix (WRAM). • California Family Assessment Factor Analysis (Fresno Model) • Child Emergency Response Assessment Protocol (Illinois Model) • *Family Assessment Response (After a safety Assessment) • Actuarial (SDM) • Children’s Research Center – Structured Decision Making. In all Models Safety Assessments are treated as part of Risk Assessment (except PA and NC)

5. Similarities of Consensus Basedand Actuarial Models • “Safety” represents a point in time which is valid & reliable only for that moment. • Designed to improve clinical judgment & decisions. • Attempt to “standardize” a process for decision making. • Observe family behaviors/functioning though lists of expected behaviors.

6. More Similarities • Examine the ability of the caretaker to protect the child (parents, foster parents, etc…, ) • Recognize the role and importance of the extended familyto assist in safety. • Examine current situations that affect safety. • Agree that Safety and Risk Assessments are not needed with each contact. • Both see risk and safety assessment as part of an ongoing problem solving process.

7. Safety/Risk Assessment in a Problem Solving Model Referral Screen Reassess Safety/Risk • Investigation Assessment • Intervention Planning Ongoing reassessment of problems/issues/theories. • Implementation Evaluation Other services Follow-up Close Case

8. Safety/Risk Assessment Differences in the Models • Safety is based on information gathered during the assessment. • Construct validity • More emphasis on the caretaker than the extended family (Action for Child Protection 2007). http://www.actionchildprotection.org/ • Safety is based on information gathered during the assessment but variables proven to be valid and reliable are given a score. • Construct and empirical validity (strong statistical validity behind the questions). • Statistically focuses questions to reduce worker error. (Shlonskya A. & Wagner 2005) Consensus Based Actuarial

9. Safety/Risk Assessment Differences • Child is “safe” or “unsafe” (less emphasis on levels of risk) • Child Safety is “Dynamic” • Less subject to bias, decisions preferences and ethical concerns. • Levels Safety and risk can be predicted. • It’s a reliable and valid checklist Consensus Based Actuarial Models

10. Consensus-Based Instruments • Take a comprehensive approach. • Items are based on maltreatment theories. • Items often shared across different instruments or forms. • Sometimes numerical scores are given. • Tend to use a single tool for all types of maltreatment reports. • Can structure information for clinical assessments of risk. • Help document information for decisions.

11. Consensus-based instruments • Some argue that more information equates to better decisions. • Criticized for: • poorly defined measures (nebulous, ambiguous, subjective). • Inconsistency in types of variables • Use same variables to predict all types of abuse, neglect, sexual abuse. • Less weight given to recurrence of maltreatment. • Reliance on variables for which there is no research. Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

12. Actuarial Instruments • Less bias (Fontes, L.A. (2008). • Use statistics to weigh factors to predict future. • Often statistical analysis is done in locality where the instrument is used. • Use fewer factors than Consensus Based. • Factors are scored and summed into an overall risk score. • Families are rated low, med, high and receive different service responses. • More reliable and valid questions. Raelene Freitag, Director Children's Research Center (2011) Email correspondence.

13. Actuarial Instruments • Criticized for: • Not using or curtailing the clinical judgment of the worker. • Basis for judgment on a factor that is statistically associated with recurrence of maltreatment, and may not appear to be causally related to the outcome. This may cause caseworkers to discount the value because they can’t understand the theory, math or reason behind the score. Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

14. Actuarial v. Consensus Based Models The research literature clearly favors Actuarial Models over Consensus Based. “Settled Science” • Rittner, B., Children and Youth Service Review, Vol. 24 No. 3, March 2002 pages 189 – 207. (Compared Mich’s actuarial model to Washington’s and Fresno California’s CB models). • Evidence for Practice, Risk and Safety Assessment in Child Welfare: Instrument Comparisons, No. 2 July 2005. Argues for more research. • Johnson, W. (2011). The validity and utility of the California Family Risk Assessment under practice conditions in the field: A prospective study. Child abuse & neglect, 35, 1, 18-28. • D’Andrade, A., Austin, M.J., & Benton, A. (2008). Risk and Safety Assessment in Child Welfare: Instrument Comparisons. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 5 (102) 31-56.

15. States Doing SDM Green = County Systems • Alaska – Did have full system but may have switched to Action • Arkansas – Says the are implementing • California – Some counties • Colorado - Used in el Paso County only. • Connecticut • DC • Florida– Some communities (not statewide) Family Assessment Response? • Georgia • Indiana – One of the first states, currently updating their model.

16. States Doing SDM Green = County Systems • Kansas - Two private agencies (Managed Care system?) • Louisiana – Using the model • Massachusetts – Most of system (Union is fighting) • Michigan – One of the first states. • Minnesota – Family Assessment Response State - One of the first states • Missouri – Uses parts of SDM Model • Nebraska (KVC) • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico - Began several years ago.

17. States Doing SDM (Actuarial)Green = County Systems • New York – Family Assessment Response • Ohio – Incorporated into Competency Based Training. • Rhode Island • Washington – SDM risk assessment only • Wisconsin (some counties) • Utah – Just started • Vermont • Virginia - Family Assessment Response Raelene Freitag, Director Children's Research Center (2011) Email correspondence.

18. SDM in other places • New Brunswick is just starting • Manitoba has part of system • Ontario has risk assessment and may be using more • Saskatchewan is starting • British Columbia has risk and may have picked up others • Bermuda • Queensland • South Australia • New south wales • Northern Territories (in roll out) Raelene Freitag, Director Children's Research Center (2011) Email correspondence.

19. States Doing Action For Child Protection (Consensus Based Model) • Alabama – Currently doing a pilot of the model. • Alaska (has not been confirmed) • Hawaii • Maryland (at the University of Maryland with a demonstration project) • Texas • South Dakota • West Virginia • Wisconsin http://www.actionchildprotection.org/

20. States Doing Other Consensus Based Models • Arizona • Delaware (Focused Safety Assessment) (PIP) • Georgia • Idaho (Safety Assessment tool) (PIP) • Illinois - Child Emergency Response Assessment Protocol (CERPA), the model of PA’s risk assessment. Improved outcomes with use but no reliability and validity. (Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005) and A Comparison of Approaches to Risk Assessment in Child Protection and Brief Summary of Issues Identified From Research on Assessment in Related Fields Child Welfare League of America, 2005)

21. States Doing Other Consensus Based Models • Iowa • Kentucky (Family In Need Assessment) Family Assessment Response. Very detailed and specific with a great deal legislated. • Maine • Missouri (Part of Action) http://www.dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/section2/ch9/sec2ch9.pdf • North Carolina - Family Assessment Response. ** Very detailed Safety Assessment Directions. • South Carolina - Family Assessment Response.

22. Risk/Safety Comparisons(From - Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

23. Use with other Models • SDM and Family Group Decision Making – Minnesota, SDM News, Issue 24. Feb. 2011.

24. Studies of the Process • Massachusetts looked at SDM. About half the workers thought the processes was helpful, half did not. Raelene F. & Healy T. (2008) Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Assessment Field Test Results • CARF (Action Model): Favored by less experienced workers (Doueck et al. 1993). • Illinois – Found workers inflated scores to get cases accepted for service. (Lyle & Graham 2000). • Assessment forms often missing. (Lyle and Graham 2000).

25. Studies of the Process • Quality of implementation more important than actuarial or consensus-based. • Consensus that high quality training is needed. • All models need supervisory and management support • Need supervisors and workers engaged in planning and implementation. (Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

26. Are Multiple Models being used in a State? Yes! Wisconsin & California But in California a county process model must: • Determine a response to a referral. • Make an initial safety decision. • Assesses safety/risk in placements. • Make a referral disposition. • Be used in ongoing case planning decisions. • Be used in reunification • Be used in case closure. (Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005)

27. Competition between Structured Decision Making (Actuarial) and Action for Child Protection (Consensus Based) • Action is home to the National Resource Center for Child Protective Services. • Consensus Base qualitative research • CRC (SDM) is a non-profit affiliated by the National Council on Crime Delinquency. • Actuarial models quantitative research. Action for Child Protection Children’s Research Center

28. Actuarial v. Consensus BasedWorkgroup • What if the baseline isn’t working? • REASSESS THE MEASURE

29. References • Action for Child Protection (no author listed) (2007) The Safety Decision. http://www.actionchildprotection.org/PDF/May_2007_The_Safety_Decision.pdf • http://www.actionchildprotection.org/ • Child Welfare League of America (no author) (2005) A Comparison of Approaches to Risk Assessment in Child Protection and Brief Summary of Issues Identified From Research on Assessment in Related Fields, A report prepared for Pennsylvania. • D’Andrade, A., Austin, M.J., & Benton, A. (2008). Risk and Safety Assessment in Child Welfare: Instrument Comparisons. Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work 5 (102) 31-56. • Doueck, H.J. English, D. DePanfalis, D. & Moote, G. (1993). Decision-making in child protective services: A comparison of selected risk assessment systems. Child Welfare, 72(5), 441-52. • Evidence for Practice , An Executive Summary. U.C. Berkley, 2005. • Fontes, L.A. (2008). assessment Instruments and Structured Decision Making in Child Abuse and Culture. New York: Guilford Press. • Freitag, R. & Healy T. (2008) Massachusetts Department of Children and Families Assessment Field Test Results • Freitag, Raelene (2011) Director Children's Research Center, email correspondence.

30. References • Johnson, W. (2011). The validity and utility of the California Family Risk Assessment under practice conditions in the field: A prospective study. Child abuse & neglect, 35, 1, 18-28. • Lyle C. G. & Graham E. (2000). Looks can be deceiving: Using a risk assessment instrument to evaluate the out-comes of child protection services. Children and Youth Services Review, 22(11/12), 935-49. • New York OCFS Family Service Review http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/cfsr/far.shtm • North Carolina DSS On-line manual • Rittner, B., Children and Youth Service Review, Vol. 24 No. 3, March 2002 pages 189 – 207. • SDM News, (no author listed) Issue 24. Feb. 2011. • Shlonskya A. & Wagner D. (2005) The next step: Integrating actuarial risk assessment and clinical judgment into an evidence-based practice framework in CPS case management, Children and Youth Services Review, 27 (2005) 409– 427.

31. Other Readings • Baird, C., Wagner, D., Healy, T., & Johnson, K.(1999). Risk assessment in child protective services: Consensus and actuarial model reliability. Child Welfare, 78(6), 723-748. • Johnson, K., Caskey, R., & Wagner, D. (2003). Addendum to the evaluation of Michigan’s foster care Structured Decision Making case management system. Madison, WI: Children’s Research Center. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/mi_2002_fc_eval_addendum.pdf • Johnson, K. (2005). A retrospective support assessment study of foster and relative care providers. Madison, WI: Children’s Research Center. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/fcrp_support_assmnt_sept05.pdf • Johnson, W. (2004). Effectiveness of California’s child welfare Structured Decision Making® model: A prospective study of the validity of the California family risk assessment. Sacramento, CA: California Department of Social Services. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/ca_sdm_model_feb04.pdf • Lee, S., Aos, S., & Marna Miller, M. (2008). Evidence-based programs to prevent children from entering and remaining in the child welfare system: Benefits and costs for Washington. Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, Document No. 08-07-3901. • Loman, L. A., & Siegel, G. L. (2004). An evaluation of the Minnesota SDM Family Risk Assessment. Institute of Applied Research. www.iarstl.org/papers/FinalFRAReport.pdf • Rossi, P., Schuerman, J., & Budde, S. (1996). Understanding child maltreatment decisions and those who make them. Chicago: Chapin Hall Center for Children, University of Chicago. • Rycus, J. S., & Hughes, R. C. (2003). Issues in risk assessment in child protective services: Policy white paper. Columbus, OH: North American Resource Center for Child Welfare. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/ra_issues_whitepaper_2003.pdf

32. Other Readings • Rycus, J. S., & Hughes, R. C. (2007). Issues in risk assessment in child protective services. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1(1), 85-116. • Stewart, A. & Thompson, C. (2004). Comparative Evaluation of Child Protection Assessment Tools. Queensland: Griffith University. • Wagner, D., Johnson, K., & Caskey, R. (2003). Evaluation of Michigan’s foster care Structured Decision Making case management system. Madison, WI: Children’s Research Center. • http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/mi_2002_fc_eval.pdf • Wagner, D. & Johnson, K. (1999). Using actuarial risk assessment to target service interventions in pilot California counties. 13th National Roundtable on CPS Risk Assessment. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/13th_roundtable_ca_risk.pdf • Wagner, D. & Meyer, B.L. (1998). Using actuarial risk assessment to identify unsubstantiated cases for preventative intervention in New Mexico. 12th National Roundtable on CPS Risk Assessment. http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/nm_1998_roundtable_risk.pdf • Wagner, D., Hull, S., & Luttrell, J. (1995). The Michigan Department of Social Services risk based Structured Decision Making system: An evaluation of its impact on child protection service cases. Ninth National Round Table on CPS Risk Assessment. • http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/pubs/mi_1995_cps_eval.pdf • Wood, J.M. (1997, April). Risk predictors for re-abuse or re-neglect in a predominantly Hispanic population. Child Abuse & Neglect. 21 (4) 379-389.