4.0 Introduction to Initial Safety Assessment | CWS

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(4) Initial Safety Assessment

Policy Title:

Introduction to Initial Safety Assessment

Policy Number:

4.0

Previous Policy Number(s):

N/A

Effective Date:

November 2023

Manual Transmittal:

2023-03

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5 Reporting of Child Abuse (e)(f)
O.C.G.A. § 20-1A-12 Definitions
O.C.G.A. § 49-5-8 Powers and Duties of Department of Human Services
O.C.G.A. § 49-5-40 Definitions; Confidentiality of Records; Restricted Access to Records
O.C.G.A. § 49-5-41 Persons and Agencies Permitted to Access Records
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act Section 471(a) (9)
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Public Law 105-89 Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997
Final Notice of Statewide Data Indicators and National Standards for Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR)
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Agency File and Child Codebooks

Discussion

As the designated child welfare agency in Georgia, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) is legally mandated to respond to reports of known or suspected instances of child abuse; including physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment or maltreatment under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is threatened.

DFCS has a two-track differential response system to address accepted reports of known or suspected child abuse. The tenets of differential response systems as recognized by the Child Welfare League of America and the American Humane Association are incorporated into Georgia’s practice model, which includes:

Response options (track assignments) established via state policy with two discrete response pathways for accepted child abuse reports. This includes Investigations and Family Support Services (FSS).
Pathway assignment based on an Initial Safety Assessment (ISA) and a determination that a child is safe or unsafe.
The initial non-investigative pathway assignment to the FSS program can change to Investigation at any time a safety threat (present or impending danger) is identified.
In the non-investigative, FSS pathway:
1. A family assessment is required; however, families may accept or refuse services so long as there are no safety concerns;
2. There is no formal determination of child maltreatment; and
3. No one is named as a maltreater.
In the Investigative pathway:
1. A full family functioning assessment is required, during which a determination is made regarding whether the parent(s) have sufficient caregiver protective capacities to protect a child and meet the child’s well-being needs;
2. A determination regarding child safety and whether maltreatment occurred is made and a formal finding recorded;
3. Families are linked to formal or informal supports/services to strengthen them; however, the participation in these supports/services is not voluntary; and
4. When necessary, the removal of a child from the custody of the parent(s) may occur through court action when a child’s safety and well-being is determined to be in danger, and in-home services are insufficient to control or eliminate the safety threat(s).

To determine the track assignment for an accepted report of maltreatment, an ISA is conducted. The ISA is designed to provide an initial response to the reported maltreatment within an assigned timeframe of immediate, 24 hours, or five weekdays of the intake report to assess the safety of the alleged victim child(ren). After the initial response, DFCS has up to an additional 72 hours from the expiration of the assigned response time to complete the ISA process. This includes seeing all household members, making a safety determination, and track assignment.

The ISA provides a more comprehensive method of determining the level of intervention that may be required as the initial assignment to FSS or Investigations is made based on a discussion with the alleged victim child and his or her family, instead of relying solely on the information received during an intake report. Once contact is made with the family and the information is discussed with the Supervisor if there is an indication of a safety threat(s) the case is assigned to the Investigations track. If there are no indications of a safety threat(s) the ISA is assigned to the FSS track. Best practice requires that the same Social Services Case Manager (SSCM) conducts the ISA and FSS assessment to facilitate continuity in information gathering, partnership and consensus building with the family.

There are exceptions to ISA’s that are required to be assigned to the Investigations track regardless of the identification of safety threats.

DFCS utilizes a Solution-Based Casework (SBC) Practice Model. Grounded in a framework of safety, and wedded to full family engagement, the SBC practice model is best thought of as the architecture that holds our practice to a consistent focus on safety outcomes. At the heart of SBC is the belief that by building a partnership with the family, a true focus on developing pragmatic solutions to the everyday problems in life the family is facing can be developed. Documenting and celebrating the successes of the family are also acknowledged and provide a framework for the family to sustain positive change moving forward. By using the SBC model, the case manager is able to follow a conceptual map for family-centered practice from assessment through case closure.^[1]

DFCS believes in a family-centered approach to working with families. At the core of this family-centered practice is the belief that children have a right to be safe and secure, to be with their families, to be associated with their culture and to experience the least trauma or interference in their lives as is possible. Parent(s) and children have the right to family, integrity, privacy, and due process when their constitutional rights may be deprived by a government entity. Parent(s) also have the right to be informed and involved, have, and care for their children and receive prompt responses regarding their children.

The scope of DFCS intervention should be the least intrusive necessary and no greater than what is absolutely essential to assess child safety, to implement actions, services and controls that assure a child’s safety, and to make a determination regarding the need for ongoing or permanency services. To that end, the ability to engage the family during the ISA process prior to making a decision regarding the level of DFCS intervention provides an opportunity for a more consistent and informed decision concerning the level of response needed for the accepted report of child abuse.

Initiating the Assessment (ISA, Investigations, Special Investigations, or FSS)

Initiating the assessment is defined as making or attempting to contact the family or another person who can provide information essential to the disposition of the investigation or assessment.

CPS Communication Center (CICC) contacting the family or another person during the intake assessment phase to determine the location of the alleged maltreated child does not constitute initiation of the assessment.

Response Time

Response time means the date and time from the receipt of an intake report to the time of making face-to-face contact with the alleged victim child(ren). Receipt of an intake report means the date and time a report alleging child abuse is received by DFCS from a reporter.

Parent(s)

Parent(s) is used to refer to person(s) legally obligated to provide or secure adequate care for a child including his/her parent, guardian, or legal custodian.