Assessment in child protection consists of several key functions, many of which may occur continuously throughout the life of a case. Various assessments of risk, safety, child and family functioning, and trauma occur at screening, intake, investigation/assessment, ongoing child protection, and case closure.
Throughout the assessment phase, caseworkers may face unique challenges in responding to the varying types of child abuse and neglect or responding to families who have a recurrence of maltreatment in the home. Find resources to assist in each step of the child protection process, strategies for responding to each type of child maltreatment, and ways to prevent the recurrence of child maltreatment.