SAFETY FACTORS
This safety factor involves a caretaker who lacks the capacity or willingness to protect the child from harm.
What is “Unable or unwilling to protect the child(ren)”?
A caretaker who misuses prescription medications in a way that affects supervision meets which safety factor?
What is “Caretaker uses illicit drugs or misuses prescriptions to extent it impacts care”?
A caretaker who calls a child “evil,” “stupid,” or “possessed” meets which safety factor?
What is “Caretaker acts toward child in negative terms or has unrealistic expectations”?
Broken windows, exposed wiring, or dangerous objects accessible to children indicate this safety factor.
What is “Physical condition of home is hazardous to the safety of children”?
This elevated risk applies when a sibling was removed and remains in foster care.
What is “Siblings removed due to abuse/neglect and remain out of home”?
A newborn born with positive toxicology for alcohol would fall under this safety factor.
What is “Caretaker uses alcohol to the extent it impacts care”?
A caretaker in treatment but still showing impact on decision-making within the last two years meets this risk element.
What is “Caretaker’s alcohol (or drug) use has had negative effects within the past two years”?
A caretaker showing bizarre or extremely irrational behavior, impacting care, meets this safety factor.
What is “Mental health status negatively impacts caretaking”?
A child wandering outside alone while the caretaker is home suggests this safety factor.
What is “Caretaker unable or unwilling to provide adequate supervision”?
A caretaker with a past TPR meets this elevated risk category.
What is “Caretaker has a previous termination of parental rights”?
A child showing fear by trembling, cringing, or crying around a specific household member represents this safety factor.
What is “Child exhibits fear of being in the home”?
A newborn with drug withdrawal symptoms fits this elevated risk element.
What is “Newborn child has positive toxicology for alcohol or drugs”?
A caretaker who fails to use necessary supports related to a developmental disability meets this safety factor.
What is “Caretaker’s developmental disability impacts ability to protect/care”?
Family could not be located despite diligent efforts.
What is “Child’s whereabouts cannot be ascertained, or family about to flee”?
Physical injury requiring emergency care within 6 months falls under this element.
What is “Serious physical injury requiring hospitalization/emergency care”?
A caretaker who violently shakes a baby to stop crying meets this safety factor.
What is “Caretaker is violent, out of control, or has recent history of violence”?
Criminal activity involving drug production in the home aligns with this safety factor.
What is “Criminal activity in the home negatively impacts caretaking ability”?
Having a diagnosed mental illness alone is not enough — this must also be true for it to be a safety factor.
What is “The illness negatively impacts the caretaker’s ability to supervise, protect, or care for the child”?
Rodent infestation, spoiled food, and inadequate heat fit this risk element.
What is “History of hazardous or unstable housing”?
A child under age 1 injured due to maltreatment automatically escalates risk due to this element.
What is “Physical injury to child under one due to maltreatment”?
Significant disabilities or medical fragility in a child, combined with caretaker inability to provide necessary care, falls under this factor.
What is “Child has significant vulnerability and caretaker cannot provide adequate care”?
Child exposure to dangerous substances used in drug production (like methamphetamine chemicals) falls under this safety factor.
What is “Home environment hazardous due to drug-related materials”?
This risk element scores as a caretaker strength and refers to understanding age-appropriate behavior.
What is “Caretaker demonstrates developmentally appropriate expectations”?
A firearm kept loaded and accessible to children meets this safety factor.
What is “Weapon in home and caretaker unable/unwilling to protect child from potential harm”?
Repeated sexual abuse by a caretaker fits this high-severity risk element.
What is “Repeated incidents of sexual or severe physical abuse”?