Below Is the Safety, Permanency and Well-Being Guide

SII_GB_Action7_Exhibit2_SPWGuide

Below is the Safety, Permanency and Well-Being Guide. This is accessible to users by clicking on the icon on the Safety, Permanency and Well-Being Guided Narrative form in Georgia SHINES.

Safety, Permanency and Well-Being Guide

This narrative should be used for EPEM, ECEM, Monthly Caregiver Visits, or any significant contact between the case manager and case principals or collaterals. Parent/Child visitation should continue to be documented on the Parent/Child Visitation Narrative.

ASSESSING SAFETY refers to the determination of whether a child is in a safe environment. A safe environment is one in which there are no threats that pose a danger or, if there are threats, there is a responsible adult in a care-giving role who demonstrates sufficient capacity to protect the child.

MALTREATMENT is the act, failure to act, or pattern of behavior by an adult [parent, foster parent, relative or other caregiver] responsible for the care of the child which results in physical abuse, neglect, medical neglect, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and/or presents an imminent risk of harm to a child.

GUIDANCE: Did you observe any maltreatment on this visit? Document:  Type of maltreatment  Severity of the maltreatment  Imminent threat of harm  Details of incident that lead to maltreatment  Emotional/physical symptoms  Identify victim and maltreator

Underlying Factors are the root causes of maltreatment that may not be readily observable, but must be addressed to sustain change. Document factors such as:  Maltreatment history  How caregiver's needs are met  Reason for being a parent – planned or accidental pregnancy  Reason for being a foster parent, relative caregiver, etc.  Caregiver's satisfaction level in being a caregiver – resentful, tired, burdened, versus joyful and glad, etc.  Caregiver's knowledge of child development and child caring skills  Caregiver's perspective on the child's need for protection  Cultural influences on the parenting approach  How was the caregiver parented  Caregiver's concept, purpose, and method of discipline

IMMINENT THREAT OF HARM means that safety threats are present that are highly likely to cause harm to a child if not immediately controlled. A safety/protective intervention action plan is required. SII_GB_Action7_Exhibit2_SPWGuide

GUIDANCE: Document those safety factors observed that puts the child in danger at this moment. In addition to the safety factors also consider:  Has the household composition changed [Have record checks been completed and documented]?  Are there frequent visitors to the home?  Are there any concerns about the foster home or facility environment?

CHILD VULNERABILITY refers to a child's capacity for self-protection. It is the degree to which a child can avoid, negate or modify safety threats, or compensate for the caregiver's missing or insufficient protective capacity.

GUIDANCE: Evaluate and document EACH child in the family individually:  How does the child's age/developmental level influence the child's capacity for self-protection  Each child's general mood and temperament, for example, provocative, irritating or non-assertive behavior  Each child's physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, for example, physical disabilities or medical conditions, intellectual capacities or learning challenges, shy, socially isolated, maturity level  Each child's role in the family, for example, Hero, Scapegoat, Lost Child, Mascot, Mastermind  Child visibility in the community, for example, attends school, church, out of home activities, isolated  Does perpetrator still have access to the child

CAREGIVER PROTECTIVE CAPACITY is a measure of individual and family strengths, resources or characteristics that mitigate threats of harm to a child or demonstrate that the child is being adequately protected. In this context, family strengths or resources refer only to those characteristics that directly affect the safety of the child. The primary question is "CAN and WILL THE caregiver protect the child?"

GUIDANCE: Assess the ability to protect for each person in the caregiver role:  Mother, father, step-parent, foster parent, relative caregiver, facility staff, babysitter, boyfriend/girlfriend, other adult household members, and anyone else in a caregiver role  Assess strengths and concerns of the caregiver that pertain to protective capacity. Note only strengths that support protective capacity.

Consider the Caregiver's:  Expectations of the child  Intent concerning the maltreatment  Impairment, if any  Behavioral, cognitive and emotional characteristics  Perspective and attitude SII_GB_Action7_Exhibit2_SPWGuide

 Ability to process and manage stress  Motivation to protect  Decision-making process  Consistency in parenting  Cultural influences  Support system  Community involvement

SAFETY INTERVENTIONS are immediate protective actions taken to secure the safety of the child. Safety actions are not intended to "solve" household's problems or provide long-term answers. Note: This assessment/field is not a substitute for the required forms: Safety Assessment, Safety Plan and/or Corrective Action GUIDANCE: A safety intervention is an action required to CONTROL factors/conditions, which if they continue to exist, would place a child in danger of ongoing or immediate harm. The safety intervention describes strategies and services developed by the agency and family with the explicit goal of ensuring the child's immediate safety. Clearly document how the safety interventions specifically address any deficits in the caregiver’s protective capacity that places the child in immediate danger.

EMERGING DANGER (RED FLAG OR RISK FACTOR) is a safety consideration that arises when the underlying conditions and contributing factors associated with safety and risk escalate and/or the protective capacity of the caregiver diminishes.

GUIDANCE:  Emerging danger can exist in all families in any stage of the case  Case Managers should focus on CHANGES in the family dynamics or environment which increase the likelihood that the child will be maltreated in the future  Case Managers should also look for existing risk factors that are escalating  ASSESS the need for a safety or risk intervention to address any emerging danger (red flag) issue identified  If a new child has been placed in the foster home, assess his or her history and whether it presents any safety concerns for any other child in the home  Has the caregiver given an indication that s/he is overwhelmed  Has the caregiver indicated by action or words that s/he would like the child to be moved

RISK INTERVENTIONS are those services and strategies that reduce the likelihood of future maltreatment.

GUIDANCE: Document the effectiveness of services and strategies intended to increase the caregiver’s protective capacity and/or reduce child vulnerability.

NEXT STEPS SII_GB_Action7_Exhibit2_SPWGuide

GUIDANCE: List specific tasks identified during this contact to be completed. List any actions needed to mitigate the safety and risk concerns for the family.

Possible follow-up actions/next steps:  Conduct round-table, FTM, staff specific decision with supervisor, etc.  Request court action, such as Panel Review, Judicial Review, Contempt Hearing, or filing a complaint, etc.  Set up next office or home visit  Make referrals for additional services  Arrange respite care  Have conversations with meaningful collaterals to follow-up or gather information

SUPERVISOR COMMENTS/CASE MANAGER UPDATES

GUIDANCE: The Supervisor comments/Case Manager updates field is intended for supervisor comments or corrections/modifications to the information recorded in the guided narrative document after the seven day entry time period. Comments in this field should include the date and name of person entering the information. SII_GB_Action7_Exhibit2_SPWGuide

SAMPLE

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