Deck 13: The Maltreated Child and Child Protective Services Response: What Happens After a Report Is Made

Question 1

Which of the following situations does NOT necessarily require an immediate response (i.e., within 2 hours) from CPS?

A) The call concerns the physical abuse of a toddler.
B) The call regards an 11-year-old who has been left home alone.
C) The call is received from the emergency room of a hospital.
D) The call concerns a case of sexual abuse in which the perpetrator lives in the home with the victim.

Answer 1

The call regards an 11-year-old who has been left home alone.

Question 2

Which of the following pieces of information MUST CPS have in order to investigate a report of child maltreatment?

A) The name of the alleged victim.
B) The name of the alleged perpetrator.
C) A specific allegation of child abuse/neglect.
D) The address where the child and/or alleged perpetrator live.

Answer 2

A specific allegation of child abuse/neglect.

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT necessarily considered an "emergency" with respect to CPS response time (i.e., with 2 hours) following a report of child maltreatment?

A) The report comes from a hospital emergency room.
B) The report is for the physical abuse of a toddler.
C) The report is for the sexual abuse of a child in which the alleged perpetrator lives in the child's home.
D) The report is provided by a mandated reporter.

Answer 3

The report is provided by a mandated reporter.

Question 4

Which of the following pieces of Federal legislation requires states to make reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of children from their parents care?

A) Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act
B) Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
C) Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
D) Keeping Children and Families Safe Act

Question 5

Which of the following pieces of Federal legislation requires a national registry of substantiated cases of child maltreatment to be maintained by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services?

A) Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act
B) Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
C) Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
D) Keeping Children and Families Safe Act

Question 6

According to Child Protective Services: A Guide for Caseworkers, which of the following is NOT a basic philosophical tenet of CPS?

A) A safe a permanent home is best for children.
B) Families who need assistance from CPS are diverse.
C) CPS efforts are most likely to succeed when clients actively participate in the process.
D) When children are placed in out-of-home care, permanency planning should be developed slowly.

Question 7

The principle that a child's ideal living environment is one that will be long-lasting and stable is known as

A) permanency.
B) continuity.
C) family preservation.
D) family reunification.

Question 8

The principle that a child's ideal living environment is one that should be disrupted as little as possible is known as

A) permanency.
B) continuity.
C) family preservation.
D) family reunification.

Question 9

The federally mandated principle that encourages CPS agencies to maintain biological families whenever possible

A) is required by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.
B) is known as family preservation and reunification.
C) is known as permanency.
D) is administered by the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Question 10

As part of the intake process, CPS agencies

A) determine whether an allegation of child maltreatment is substantiated.
B) develop concurrent plans for permanency.
C) evaluate family progress.
D) determine whether a report of child maltreatment should be accepted for further investigation.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT part of CPS' intake process?

A) Determining whether a report meets statutory and/or agency guidelines.
B) Conducting a safety assessment to determine the urgency of an allegation and the necessary agency response time.
C) Including the alleged victims' family in the decision-making process.
D) Deciding whether to accept a report of child maltreatment for further investigation.

Question 12

The final outcome of a CPS investigation is to

A) determine whether an allegation of child maltreatment is substantiated.
B) develop a case plan.
C) hold meetings to involve the family in the decision-making process.
D) determine any services needed to improve the families' overall well-being.

Question 13

When a report of child maltreatment is unfounded, this means that

A) credible evidence indicates that maltreatment has occurred.
B) there is a lack of credible evidence to indicate that maltreatment has occurred.
C) the alleged victim was not, in fact, maltreated.
D) some evidence of maltreatment exists, but not enough to substantiate the case.

Question 14

When a report of child maltreatment is indicated, this means that

A) credible evidence indicates that maltreatment has occurred.
B) there is a lack of credible evidence to indicate that maltreatment has occurred.
C) the alleged victim was not, in fact, maltreated.
D) some evidence of maltreatment exists, but not enough to substantiate the case.

Question 15

The process by which an allegation of child maltreatment might lead to referrals for services rather than a CPS investigation is known as a(n)

A) differential response system.
B) investigative track.
C) risk assessment.
D) safety assessment.

Question 16

The family group decision-making model

A) utilizes family meetings in the case-planning process.
B) often increases the willingness of family members to accept services outlined in the case plan.
C) increases the support available to families through support networks.
D) all of the above

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a primary outcome of case planning?

A) Child safety
B) Child permanence
C) Out-of-home placement
D) Family well-being

Question 18

Behaviors that typically pose moderate risk for child maltreatment include

A) inappropriate corporal punishment.
B) sexual abuse.
C) high level of family stress.
D) mild neglect (for example, a dirty house in which older children live).

Question 19

Behaviors that rise to the level of high risk for child maltreatment are most likely to require

A) parenting education.
B) early intervention.
C) court-ordered services.
D) community support services.

Question 20

Which of the following statements regarding case closure is FALSE?

A) Case closure occurs when the case plan has been completed and all outcomes have been achieved.
B) Case closure occurs following the termination of parental rights the child has been adopted.
C) Case closure may occur when a family receiving voluntary services discontinues involvement with CPS.
D) Case closure may occur when a family receiving involuntary services discontinues involvement with CPS.

Question 21

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act (1980) requires states to make reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of children from their parents.

Question 22

As part of the family assessment process, a safety plan is typically developed.

Question 23

A central registry is a statewide database that contains information on all substantiated reports of child maltreatment.

Question 24

A determination of indicated means that a caseworker has found enough evidence to substantiate that maltreatment has occurred.

Question 25

The family group decision-making model includes the family in the case-planning process.

Question 26

Discuss the significance of legal terminology and definitions with respect to inconsistencies inherent in CPS decision-making. Provide a specific example to support your answer.

Question 27

What is the difference between continuity and permanency with respect to a child's living environment?

Question 28

Describe the principle of family preservation and reunification. How has CPS' adherence to this principle been affected by federal legislation?

Question 29

What does it mean when a case is unsubstantiated? Does this mean that maltreatment has not occurred? Explain your answer.

Question 30

Discuss two advantages to differential response systems with respect to child welfare. What is a potential pitfall to this approach?

Question 31

What is a potential pitfall to the differential response system?