monthly article for September 2003

Applying Safety Concepts
©2003 Action for Child Protection, Inc.

Introduction

Since January we have considered several crucial concepts that serve as the foundation for safety assessment. Now we are providing you an opportunity to apply those concepts through a case analysis. After watching a 6 minute video of Carie talking about her 8 year old son Jose, take a stab at analyzing the case using several safety concepts. Questions are provided to assist you in the analysis. It might be helpful to refer to our previous monthly features on the safety concepts if you think they will be helpful. Use your own experience and opinion and/or your state's safety model as you analyze and reach answers.

Case Analysis
 

Case Analysis

This video runs 6 minutes. You will need Windows Media Player v7 or higher to view it. 56k Modem Version Broadband Cable/DSL Version

Now that you've observed Carie, focus your analysis only on assessment of safety threats. Avoid jumping into what CPS should do. A six minute video doesn't provide you with near enough information, so for this experience feel comfortable making assumptions about Carie and Jose based on what you can logically deduce. But as you develop your analysis think hard about your rationale and being consistent with the safety concepts being considered.

Analysis Questions

1. What is/are the threat(s) to the child's safety?
2. What is your analysis of the threat(s)? In your analysis consider:
     a. How long the threat has been in place?
     b. How often the threat occurs?
     c. How wide spread the threat is in over all family functioning?
     d. What stimulates or is associated with the threat?
     e. Are condition/circumstances likely to continue?
     f. Is severity likely to increase?
3. What are the characteristics of the child's vulnerability?
4. Which of the mom's protective capacities might be diminished?
5. Which do you believe exists - present or foreseeable danger?

After you have completed your analysis you may wish to know what our analysis looks like. If you would, email rholder@actionchildprotection.org and he will send you what we think about Carie and Jose and child safety.