Have You Seen A Risk ReAssessment?

Most of you are probably familiar with the Structured Decision Making ("SDM") Safety and Risk Assessments that DCFS is using to determine whether to remove kids from their home.  (If you aren't you can take the training HERE.)

What about the Risk ReAssessment?  Have you seen one of these in your cases?  No?  There may be a reason.

At the Court Improvement Summit Linda Wininger from DCFS shared the following slide that shows the number of SDM Assessments completed by caseworkers as of August 5, 2014.

See the difference?  Very few Risk ReAssessments have been completed compared to the Safety and Risk Assessments.  I was curious about why this might be the case and so contacted Ms. Wininger.  Here is what I found out.

Ms. Wininger let me know that DCFS was also wondering about the discrepancy in numbers.  They plan on additional follow up to determine the low number, but the have some idea why it may be.

1.  The Risk ReAssessment is only used in In Home cases.  There are significantly more CPS/removal cases than In Home cases.
2.  The Safety and Risk Assessments can be done in any type of case.
3.  The Safety and Risk Assessments are required before a CPS case can be closed.  While the Risk ReAssessment is required by DCFS policy, it is not required by the SAFE System.

Ms. Wininger also let me know that the Risk ReAssessment was intended to be completed at least every 6 month usually to correspond with an update to the Child and Family Plan or a court review hearing or progress summary.  It can be completed sooner if there are new circumstances or new information that would affect the risk factors.  The Risk ReAssessment can set a new risk level and change the contact standards.  A parent's attorney could certainly ask for one to be done and discuss it at a Child and Family Team meeting.

So if you haven't see a Risk ReAssessment in you In Home cases and you think it would be appropriate and helpful, ask for one to be completed.