7 Steps for Doing a Family Assessment
- Review Initial Information. The caseworker will first look over any information provided about your family by you or another caregiver, a family therapist or physician, or a social ...
- Examine Family Structure. This step in the process is usually when your caseworker speaks with you and your family. ...
- Determine Family Development Cycles. ...
What is Family Assessment Response?
Family Assessment Response (FAR) is a Child Protective Services (CPS) alternative response to an investigation of a screened-in allegation of child abuse or neglect. FAR focuses on child safety along with the integrity and preservation of the family when lower risk allegations of child maltreatment have been screened in for intervention.
What is the purpose of the investigation/family assessment?
The purpose of the investigation/family assessment is to detect cases of actual or potential abuse or neglect and to help the family and the child. If the child is reported to be in immediate danger, the Children's Service Worker must immediately and directly observe the child.
What is included in the family assessment?
As an information gathering tool for the IFSP/IEP, the family assessment focuses on the family routines and the child's abilities, needs, and supports. It should also focus on the resources the family uses to support child development.
What happens in a child protection assessment?
Instead, the focus of an assessment is on working with the child and the child's family to identify factors that may place the child at risk of future abuse and neglect, and to offer voluntary, community based services to reduce the risk and support the family.
What should I look for in a family assessment?
The family's culture, race, ethnicity, values, and customs must be respected and carefully considered.Identification, screening, and assessment of child abuse & neglect.Safety and risk assessment.Needs and strengths - Child.Needs and strengths - Parents and Caregivers.Family progress and permanency options.More items...
What are three areas of family assessment?
Three areas are assessed: interactional problem solving, organization and emotional climate.
What is the purpose of a family assessment?
It helps providers understand the family's strengths, goals, and priorities. It helps identify the family system and resources. It helps to reflect the voices and choices of the family. It reflects the families' needs so that intervention can be tailored to address those needs.
What happens after a family assessment?
After meeting with you and your child and assessing any other relevant information, the social worker can decide what help you need. We may recommend our services or services from other professionals to you.
What is the purpose of a child and family assessment?
A Child and Family (C&F) Assessment addresses the central and most important aspects of the needs of a child / young person, and the capacity of his or her parents or care givers to respond appropriately to these needs within the wider family and community context.
What happens after social worker assessment?
After the assessment You'll be given a copy of the assessment. We'll discuss with you what services could be helpful and whether you're happy for us to approach them. If you feel your situation has changed or you're still worried about your children, you can contact us again.
What should be included in a child and family assessment?
assess the developmental needs of the child; assess the ability of the parents to respond to the child's needs; and. consider the impact the family, the family history, the wider family and environmental factors are having on the parents' capacity to respond to their child's needs and the child's developmental progress ...
What are family assessment tools?
Family assessment tools are a systematic way of understanding the family and aid them in evaluating the impact of illness on a person and on his/her role in the family....Recognize the Family Structure. ... Understand the normal family function.Learn to assess Family Structure and Function in Clinical Practice.
What is a family assessment in nursing?
A family assessment is the first step in determining both the need for further intervention and. the specific areas of family life that might need to be addressed. A family assessment provides infor- mation about the social substrate for the evolution of the presenting complaint as well as informa-
What is family assessment model?
The Family Assessment is a systematic, multi-dimensional approach to assessing families. It includes a range of tools and methods for engaging families in assessment work and promoting family interaction.
What is family support assessment?
A child and family assessment is carried out by a social worker from the Royal Borough of Greenwich's Children's Services. We will gather information about a child in order to work out what services are needed, and who should provide them. This process involves discussing the issues around: your child's development.
What is a comprehensive family assessment?
Comprehensive family assessment assumes that information will both be gathered from and shared with other agencies that have been involved with the family or that will be part of the services outlined in the service plan. When working with other agencies, caseworkers will need support from their supervisor and agency to assure that issues related to parental consent and confidentiality are sufficiently addressed.
What are the forums used for reassessing needs?
The forums used initially (such as individual and group interviews with family members, family meetings, intra and inter-agency meetings, progress report reviews, or discussions with providers) are the same means of reassessing needs.
What is caseworker not prepared for?
Caseworkers are often not prepared by age, education, and experience to delve into the circumstances of individual families, to engage families in a change process, to get a full picture of the underlying issues and resources, to reach appropriate conclusions about the meaning of the information gathered, and to use this information in service planning and ongoing decision-making.
What is ongoing review?
Ongoing review of progress The ongoing review can be done in the context of a follow-up family team meeting with family members and service providers as well as extended family or parent support people who have been involved in the case.
How to work with Native American families?
When working with a Native-American family, the tribal child welfare staff should be informed as soon as possible by the caseworker or identified tribal liaison. Family service providers and other possible advocates for the family might attend the family meeting while others may just meet with the caseworker based on schedules as well as their role with the family.
Why should a caseworker meet with the family?
As information on circumstances and needs is gathered from different sources, the caseworker should meet with the family to help them understand how their specific needs are informing the development of the service plan.
Should children be interviewed separately?
In most cases, it may be helpful to interview children separately from their parents. If children are living at home, seeking parental permission for these meetings and possible participants in the meetings whenever appropriate is wise. A trusted adult, possibly a teacher or minister, could be with the child. Not only would they provide support but also could use their ongoing relationship to help the child understand the process and purpose of the assessment. For older children, particularly, it is important to get each child’s perspective on the issues. Whenever appropriate, children should be interviewed separately as well as together.
What is core assessment?
This is part of the child protection enquiry process.
What can children's services do?
They can also help families to get together to work out what is best for the child. Children's Services may also request involvement from other professionals, for example child guidance or the health services.
What services will be arranged?
Children's Services provides a number of options for supporting families in resolving the difficulties they may be facing with their children. These can include one-to-one work with parents and children and group work at our Children in Need Centres.
What happens when the Department of Children and Families investigates child abuse?
Once the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has commenced an investigation for child abuse or neglect with you or your family, there is a chance that the agency will be involved in your life for a long time. There are multiple outcomes to a DCF investigation, and these outcomes will determine whether DCF continues to be involved ...
What are supported findings of neglect or abuse?
Although most supported findings of neglect or abuse (or substantiated concern) by DCF do not result in court involvement, it is important to know that parents and caretakers who are subject to a supported findings are added to DCF’s “Central Registry”, and are added to a list of “Alleged Perpetrators” if DCF refers the case to the District Attorney, even if the DA does not ultimately press charges. The Central Registry can be searched by other state agencies , including agencies responsible for licensing professionals in child-related professions.
What does it mean when a DCF finds abuse?
If DCF supports an allegation of abuse or neglect, it means that DCF has identified sufficient evidence to believe that your children were abused or neglected or that they were at a risk of abuse or neglect. Meanwhile, if the agency enters a finding “substantiated concern”, it means that DCF did not identify sufficient evidence to warrant a finding of neglect or abuse, but the agency identified enough concerning evidence of risk or potential risk that DCF chooses to remain involved with the family. After either finding, DCF can then either close the case, which is unusual, or keep the case open and continue to work with you and your family for the foreseeable future.
What does it mean when a DCF unsupports an abuse and neglect case?
If DCF unsupports the allegations of abuse and/or neglect (by entering an “unsubstantiated finding”), it means that DCF did not find sufficient evidence to determine that a child or children were neglected and/or abused by ...
How long does it take to appeal a DCF finding?
A supported finding of neglect or abuse will generally only result in a court hearing in two circumstances: (1.) A parent or caretaker may appeal DCF’s finding by requesting a “fair hearing” within 30 days. If DCF upholds the finding after a fair hearing, the parent or caretaker may then appeal the fair hearing decision in Court.
How long does it take for a DCF investigation to end?
There are multiple outcomes to a DCF investigation, and these outcomes will determine whether DCF continues to be involved with your family or the agency’s activities will terminate within days, weeks or months of initially contacting you. DCF is one of the busiest agencies in the state. In Massachusetts, DCF has two primary responsibilities: (1.) ...
How to challenge a supported finding of abuse and neglect?
If you wish to challenge a supported finding of abuse and/or neglect, you must timely request a Fair Hearing. When you receive notice of a supported finding, DCF is required to provide you with instructions on how to challenge such a finding. You are allowed to hire counsel, bring witnesses, and present your case to a Fair Hearings Officer to try and have the finding reversed.
Why do we do home study?
The primary purpose of a home study is to ensure that each child is placed with a family that can best meet his or her needs. The home study process can help educate prospective adoptive parents about the type of adoption they are pursuing so they can make informed decisions that are best for their family. This section contains resources about the ...
What is a licensed family?
A licensed family is one that is approved by the State to provide care for children and that meets basic standards of safety and is able to provide a healthy and nurturing home environment. The topics discussed include training requirements, the process for approving homes, grounds for not approving homes, kinship placements, adopting from foster care, and interjurisdictional placements. Summaries of laws and policies for all States and U.S. territories are included.
Do all adoptive families have to do a home study?
Regardless of the type of adoption (private agency, public agency, or intercountry), nearly all families must complete a home study process before adopting a child. There are a few exceptions.
What is a family assessment response?
Family Assessment Response (FAR) is a Child Protective Services (CPS) alternative response to an investigation of a screened-in allegation of child abuse or neglect.
What information is needed to assess child safety and the family's needs and strengths?
Comprehensive information about the family must be gathered to assess child safety and the family's needs and strengths. Follow the Photograph Documentation policy if photographs of children or the home environment are needed.
How to get information about Far?
Make initial contact with the parent or caregivers to schedule an appointment to meet with the family to provide them with written information regarding FAR.
How to refer a child to ESIT?
Referring a child to: Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) services within two business days of identifying a child younger than three years old with a possible developmental delay. To refer: Contact the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 or through the ESIT web site.
When do you have to have an unannounced home visit?
Unannounced home visits may occur when efforts to contact the parents have been unsuccessful or the safety of the child will be compromised.
Do tribes have to be included in case planning?
Tribes must be included in case planning if the child is determined by the tribe to be a member or the biological child of a member and eligible for membership per Chapter 3 Inquiry and Verification of Child’s Indian Status of the Indian Child Welfare Manual (ICW).
What is the focus of a family assessment?
Instead, the focus of an assessment is on working with the child and the child's family to identify factors that may place the child at risk of future abuse and neglect, and to offer voluntary, community based services to reduce the risk and support the family. Family assessments typically include mild or moderate reports ...
What is the purpose of an investigation/family assessment?
The purpose of the investigation/family assessment is to detect cases of actual or potential abuse or neglect and to help the family and the child. If the child is reported to be in immediate danger, the Children's Service Worker must immediately and directly observe the child.
What is an investigation in child abuse?
An investigation is a response to a report of child abuse or neglect when there is an identified need to collect physical and/or verbal evidence to determine if a child has been abused or neglected and to decide whether an individual should be listed in the Central Registry. Investigations are co-investigated with law enforcement when possible.
What to do after a child abuse report?
After a report of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation has been made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, the information is referred to the appropriate CD county office.
