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Family-Centered Assessment
Assessment forms the foundation of effective practice with children and families. Family-centered assessment focuses on the whole family, values family participation and experience, and respects the family's culture and ethnicity. Family-centered assessment helps families identify their strengths, needs, and resources and develop a service plan that assists them in achieving and maintaining safety, permanency, and well-being.
There are many phases and types of family-centered assessment, including screening and initial assessment, safety and risk assessment, and comprehensive family assessment. Assessment in child welfare is ongoing.
Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines for Child Welfare
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning (2005)
Addresses the components of comprehensive family assessment, shows the linkages to service planning and service provision, and illustrates how child welfare agencies can support their use. (PDF - 301 KB)
Assessment of Children, Youth, and Families in the Child Welfare System
Cohen, Hornsby, & Priester (2005)
In Child Welfare for the 21st Century: A Handbook of Practices, Policies, and Programs
View Abstract
Explains the process for conducting a comprehensive, family-centered assessment in child welfare.
Beyond Risk: Improving Assessments to Keep People Safer (MS Word - 134 KB)
Kinney, Vaughn, & Strand (2000, rev. ed.)
Encourages child welfare agencies to consult community members in identifying strengths and needs of neighborhoods and families. Based on the assumption that a system of informal and formal supports is necessary for healthy family functioning and child well-being.
Child and Family Assessment in Social Work Practice
Holland (2004)
View Abstract
Focuses on core assessments and the complexities of assessing need and risk. Information is drawn from qualitative research conducted between 1997 and 2001 into how social workers in the United Kingdom carry out in-depth assessment of children when there are expressed concerns about their welfare.
Family Assessment Handbook: An Introductory Practice Guide to Family Assessment and Intervention
Thomlison (2002)
View Abstract
Provides introductory information and describes skills for assessing family functioning, as well as guidelines for clinical assessment and treatment planning.
Family Assessment in Child Welfare Services: Instrument Comparisons (PDF - 251 KB)
Johnson, Stone, Lou, Vu, & Ling (2006)
Describes the concept of family assessment in the child welfare context and discusses 21 promising assessment instruments.
Family-Centered Assessment and Goal Setting
Sandau-Beckler (2001)
In Balancing Family-Centered Services and Child Well-Being: Exploring Issues in Policy, Practice, Theory, and Research
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Asserts assessments for family-centered practice generally should include initial evaluations of family capacities and goals, as well as ongoing, in-depth analyses of family dynamics, problem-solving abilities, and cultural values.
Family Centered Assessment Guidebook: The Art of Assessment (PDF - 301 KB)
National Resource Center for Foster Care and Permanency Planning and National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice (2002)
Identifies questions that should be asked during assessments of family needs and strengths. The items can be used to obtain information about parenting, family fears, resources, support systems, child and parental mental health, and domestic violence experiences.
Family-Centered Assessment in Child Welfare Practice (PDF - 401 KB)
Lutz (2001)
Describes how a family-centered assessment should be conducted and how it meets the requirements of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.
The Functional Assessment Process (PDF - 48 KB)
The Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group (2007)
Discusses necessary elements of effective functional assessments for making case decisions on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in the child welfare system.
Ours to Keep: A Guide for Building a Community Assessment Strategy for Child Protection
Day, Robison, & Sheikh (1998)
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Describes a process for selecting family-centered assessment tools based on current child welfare principles and the goals of the particular organization. Includes types of assessment tools and how they can be used to assess child and family strengths and needs across child welfare services.
State and local examples
Administrative and Standardized Assessment Data to Measure Safety, Permanency, and Well-being: Experience in Philadelphia
Randall, Kutzler, & Halnon
Protecting Children, 18(3), 2004
View Abstract
Discusses the move toward an outcomes-based system by the Philadelphia Department of Human Services Children and Youth Division.
Comprehensive Family Assessment Program Baseline Study (PDF - 918 KB)
Ramsey County Community Human Services Department & University of Minnesota School of Social Work (2009)
Discusses the findings of a study comparing current child welfare practice in Ramsey County, MN, to the findings of the 2005 Child Family Service Review (CFSR) county report to provide a baseline for future improvement efforts.
Family Assessment in Child Welfare: The Illinois DCFS Integrated Assessment Program in Policy and Practice (PDF - 976 KB)
Smithgall, Jarpe-Ratner, Yang, DeCoursey, Brooks, & Goerge (2009)
Outlines components of the Illinois Integrated Assessment model and presents data on the extent to which the program adheres to the model. The report draws on the experiences of frontline caseworkers to explore how the model is used in practice.
Family Assessment Form
Children's Bureau of Southern California
Offers information on a tool for assessing families, planning services, and evaluating results. Includes a free software trial and documentation on reliability and validity.
Family Centered Strengths and Risk Assessment Guidebook (PDF - 335 KB)
Mississippi Division of Family and Children Services (2004)
Developed to help guide caseworkers' initial assessments of families and children in ways that focus on family strengths and successes and employ principles of family-centered practice in planning for services and supports.