Safety Assessment

What is the formal definition of a Safety Assessment under Policy 1120?

A family assessment based on comprehensive information gathered throughout the life of a case, used to evaluate whether a child is safe or unsafe.

What are the three primary operational functions of a Safety Assessment?

• To identify impending danger/safety threats.

• To determine if a Safety Plan is needed because a child or youth is unsafe.

• To determine the level of supervision needed during family time visits.

Which federal and state statutes govern the mandatory requirement to perform Safety Assessments?

• Federal: PL 105-89 (Adoption and Safe Families Act).

• State: RCW 26.44.030 and RCW 26.44.195.

What is the specific FamLink form name and number used to document a safety assessment?

Safety Assessment/Safety Plan (DCYF 15-258) form.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding the Nature and Extent of Maltreatment when assessing safety?

The type of abuse or neglect occurring, the severity of the behavior, and specific details of what happened to the child.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding the Sequence of Events Accompanying Maltreatment?

The history, context, and specific progression of circumstances leading up to and surrounding the safety incident.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding Child Functioning on a daily basis?

The child's physical, emotional, and behavioral health, developmental progress, and their capacity to protect themselves.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding Parental Disciplinary Practices?

The methods parents use to discipline the child, whether those practices are harsh, unpredictable, or dangerous, and the intent behind them.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding General Parenting Practices?

The parent’s baseline ability to fulfill daily caregiving responsibilities, provide basic needs (food, shelter), and protect the child from hazards.

What must a caseworker evaluate regarding Adult Functioning outside the parental role?

How the adults manage their own lives, mental health, substance use, emotions, employment, and interpersonal relationships.

What is the maximum mandatory timeline for completing a Safety Assessment on a new, screened-in CPS intake?

No later than 30 calendar days from the date of the intake.

When an intake is received on a case that is already active, does a new Safety Assessment need to be completed?

Yes. A new Safety Assessment must be completed for any new intake on an active case.

Why must a Safety Assessment be completed during a Comprehensive Family Evaluation (CFE)?

To identify enhanced and diminished protective capacities directly related to safety threats as part of the broader family evaluation.

What three household or status shifts mandate that a caseworker immediately complete and document a new Safety Assessment?

• A change in household members.

• Identification of new safety and/or risk factors since the previous assessment.

• When a case is being considered for closure and new safety/risk factors have been identified.

What specific safety assessment requirement applies before a child in out-of-home placement can have unsupervised family time?

A Safety Assessment must be completed before unsupervised family time can occur in the parent's home.

At what final permanency stages must a worker complete a Safety Assessment to ensure child safety?

When considering a reunification or a trial return home.

What is the Severe Impacts criterion within the Safety Threshold Guide?

Evaluating how the safety threat has caused, or has the potential to cause, death, serious injury, or significant harm to the child.

What is the Immediacy criterion within the Safety Threshold Guide?

Assessing if the safety threat is actively occurring right now or is highly likely to occur in the near or immediate future.

What is the Out of Control criterion within the Safety Threshold Guide?

Assessing whether the family's behaviors, circumstances, or conditions cannot be managed or controlled by any responsible adult inside the home.

What is the Vulnerable Child criterion within the Safety Threshold Guide?

Evaluating the child's specific age, physical/mental health, and developmental capacity, determining if they are unable to self-protect from the threat.

What is the Observable and Specific criterion within the Safety Threshold Guide?

Ensuring the safety threat is based on clear, factual, and identifiable evidence, rather than vague intuition or speculation.

How many specific safety threats are formally defined by DCYF to categorize family behaviors, conditions, or circumstances?

There are 17 safety threats defined under the DCYF Child Safety Framework.

What source standard must a caseworker use to verify the safety information collected from a family?

Workers must verify data through source documents and collateral contacts (e.g., medical professionals, school staff, counselors).

What happens if a Safety Assessment determines that a safety threat exists but the Safety Plan Analysis criteria cannot be met?

An in-home safety plan cannot be used, and the caseworker must recommend or request an out-of-home placement/removal.