Introduction to Key Concepts

Florida Safety Decision Making Methodology

6 Domains of Information Collection

Maltreatment – The specific description of the maltreatment; the allegation; the severity of the maltreatment; the specifics of the events, injuries and conditions present; the conclusion reached by the investigator confirming or refuting the alleged maltreatment

Nature of Maltreatment – The surrounding circumstances including what was going on around the time the maltreatment occurred; parent/caregiver explanations, acknowledgement and attitude; intentions. Assess frequency, history of maltreatment, priors, progressing patterns of severity.

Child Functioning – How does the child function on a daily basis? The assessment must include physical health and development; emotion and temperament; intellectual functioning; behavior; ability to communicate; self control; educational performance; peer relations; behaviors which seem to provoke parental reaction/behavior.

6 Domains of Information Collection (con’t)

Adult Functioning – The assessment of the parents including current and recent history of mental and physical health, history of domestic violence, substance use (what, how long, impact to child safety), employment, criminal behavior, trauma history/adverse childhood events, social relationships; must include current behavior, communication skills, intellectual functioning; problem solving; reality perception and coping.

Parenting General – What are the overall, typical, parenting practices used by the parent/caregivers (not including discipline)

Parenting Discipline – What are the disciplinary approaches used by the parents/caregivers, and under what circumstances.

Safety Threshold Criteria

A Family Condition is Out of Control A Family Condition is Likely to Result in a

Severe Effect The Severe Effect is Imminent: Reasonably

Could Happen Soon The Family Condition is Observable and Can

be Clearly Described and Articulated There is a Vulnerable Child

Safety Planning The caregivers are willing for an in-home safety plan

to be developed and implemented and have demonstrated that they will cooperate with all identified safety service providers

The home environment is calm and consistent enough for an in home safety plan to be implemented and for safety service providers to be in the home safely

Safety services are available at a sufficient level and to the degree necessary in order to manage the way in which impending danger is manifested in the home.

Child Vulnerability

Age of Child Age of Caregiver Community Visibility Significant Diagnosed Medical/Mental

Disorder Ability to Self-Protect Diminished Mental Capacity (developmental

delays, non verbal)

Caregiver Protective Capacity

Personal and caregiving behavioral, cognitive and emotional characteristics that specifically and directly can be associated with being protective to one’s young. Protective capacities are personal qualities or characteristics that contribute to vigilant child protection.

Criteria for Determining Caregiver Protective Capacity

The characteristic prepares the person to be protective

The characteristic enables or empowers the person to be protective

The characteristic is necessary or fundamental to being protective

The characteristic can be related to acting or being able to act on behalf of the child.

Behavioral Protective Capacity-Specific action, activity, performance that is consistent with and results in parenting and protective vigilance

Takes Action Physically Able Assertive and

Responsive Uses Resources to

Meet Basic Needs Adequate Energy Demonstrates Impulse

Control

History of protecting Sets aside their needs

in favor of the child Adequate skill to fulfill

caregiver responsibilities

Adaptive as a caregiver

Cognitive Protective Capacity-Specific intellect, knowledge, understanding and perception that results in parenting and protective vigilance

Self Aware Adequate knowledge to

fulfill caregiver duties Recognizes and

understands threats to the child

Recognizes Child Needs

Understands his/her protective role

Plans and articulates a plan to protect the child.

Emotional Protective Capacity-Specific feelings, attitudes, identification with a child and motivation that results in parenting and protective vigilance.

Able to meet own emotional needs

Resilient Stable and able to

intervene to protect the child.

Expresses love, empathy and sensitivity toward the child

Tolerant Positively attached to

the child Supports and is aligned

with the child