Relationship of risk assessment to placement characteristics in a statewide child welfare population

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2014-11, Vol.46, p.85-90
• Main Authors: Huang, Cindy Y., Bory, Christopher T., Caron, Colleen, Tebes, Jacob Kraemer, Connell, Christian M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Child welfare; Placement restrictiveness; Risk; Risk assessment
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.07.012

Risk assessments allow child and youth services to identify children who are at risk for maltreatment (e.g., abuse, neglect) and help determine the restrictiveness of placements or need for services among youth entering a child welfare system. Despite the use of instruments by many agencies within the U.S. to determine the appropriate placements for youth, research has shown that placement decisions are often influenced by factors such as gender, age, and severity of social–emotional and behavior problems. This study examined ratings of risk across multiple domains using a structured assessment tool used by caseworkers in the Rhode Island child welfare system. The relationship between ratings of risk and placement restrictiveness was also examined. Risk levels varied across placement settings. Multivariate analyses revealed that lower caseworker ratings of parent risk and higher ratings of youth risk were associated with more restrictive placements for youth. Implications for the child welfare system are discussed. •We examined risk and placement restrictiveness for youth in child welfare.•Caregiver, youth, and family risks vary by child welfare placement type.•Low parenting risk & high youth risk are associated with more restrictive placements.•Family-level risks were not associated with placement restrictiveness.