Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Examining Safety Assessments in Child Protective Services

Abstract Details

2017, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Psychology.
Annually, over 3 million reports of child maltreatment are made to state agencies in the United States (HHS, 2013). Between four and seven child deaths occur daily in the U.S. due to child abuse and neglect (USGAO, 2011; HHS, 2013). Adult survivors of child sexual abuse report poorer interpersonal relationship functioning, high-risk sexual behavior, and a tendency toward revictimization. (Polusny & Follette, 1995). Safety and risk assessments play a critical role in keeping children safe and preventing maltreatment recurrence (Fluke et al, 2001; DePanfilis & Scannapieco, 1994). A study by Dorsey et al (2008) revealed low correspondence between caseworkers’ assessments and subsequent reports of maltreatment, indicating that considerable work is needed to improve accuracy and identification of children who are unsafe or at risk. There have been few studies on the predictive utility of safety assessments. Additional research is needed to examine how caseworkers utilize the existing knowledge about safety factors and correlates of safety to make safety decisions The first objective was to examine the association between safety factors and the safety decision. The second objective was to investigate the effect of adult protective capacity and child vulnerability on caseworker safety decisions. Finally, the predictive utility of caseworker safety decisions was evaluated by considering their relationships with risk, case disposition, and case decision. The study sample was drawn from Ohio’s Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) database. Safety assessment items were 15 dichotomous indicators. Each safety assessment item was assigned to one of three categories: 1) safety factors (SF); 2) indicators of a lack of adult protective capacity (APC), and; 3) indicators of child vulnerability (CV). Odds ratios were computed between individual safety factors and between each safety factor and the safety response. Two logistic regression models predicting safety were developed: (a) one based on safety factors, adult protective capacity proxies, and child vulnerability and (b) the other based on these three predictors as well as their interactions. The final analysis examined the congruence of caseworker safety decisions with risk assessments, case dispositions, and case decisions. As expected, the odds of a safety assessment resulting in a safety plan were greater for each additional safety factor and APC proxy that was endorsed, and slightly greater for children under the age of 6 years (CV). Also, as hypothesized, the interactions among safety factors, APC, and CV added to the predictive power of the model. It was found that cases with intensive risk, substantiated reports, and those opened for ongoing services were associated with greater odds of a safety plan. The results of this study suggest that interactions among safety factors, APC, and CV matter. The SA used by Ohio caseworkers does not separate safety factors from APC and CV indicators are missing from the form. Thus, the SA form needs to be redesigned to include sections where indicators of CV and APC can be assessed and where the format prompts sequential evaluation of safety factors in conjunction with a consideration of APC and CV.
Steven Howe, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Adam Carle, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Stacie Furst-Holloway, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
76 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Walton, K. C. (2017). Examining Safety Assessments in Child Protective Services [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490352064231644

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Walton, Kellana. Examining Safety Assessments in Child Protective Services. 2017. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490352064231644.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Walton, Kellana. "Examining Safety Assessments in Child Protective Services." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1490352064231644

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)