Arizona: “New” CPS Risk Assessment Tool Called “Antiquated”
Arizona CPS social workers are now using a “new” risk assessment tool that the state spent a lot of money to develop. Apparently the goal of the risk assessment is for investigations to be more thorough and comprehensive.
A sample risk assessment distributed to employees had 81 pages, which astounded CPS social workers who are expected to complete this process each time they do an investigation. It could be that caseworkers will spend more time doing paperwork and less time detaining children.
According to one child welfare expert, the risk assessment tool is based on 20-year-old standards and will do nothing to make children safer. However state officials say the assessment is used in other states and that Arizona CPS staff contributed feedback for development of the project.
From the June 4, 2007 article in the Arizona Daily Star:
Without the changes, “we weren’t able to see how they (investigators) made their decisions,” said Janice Mickens, an administrator with CPS. “We need to have something that guides us throughout this process.”
Risk assessment tools have been used by CPS agencies for years. The “new” Arizona risk assessment is based on a Washington risk assessment developed in 1986, and some experts consider it antiquated. The state of Washington also considers it out of date and is working on developing new methods.
From the article:
The general philosophy behind it and the Arizona model is what is known as a “consensus-based” approach, meaning the case manager assesses risk from a number of areas like the child’s behavior and development, severity of abuse and the qualities of the caretaker, among others.
Such an approach has been criticized in social work academic journals for being subjective, overly broad and using the same variables to predict different types of abuse and neglect.
Using a risk assessment, CPS social workers can detain children based on what might happen, even when nothing has happened. Questions on the risk assessment may include questions such as “are the parents legally married?” and “how many children are in the home?”.
Rep. Jonathan Paton of Tucson said “81 pages seems excessive. I can envision a lot of frustration from workers who have too many cases as it is.” But Mickens, the CPS administrator, said she didn’t think the risk assessment will add much time to the investigation process because social workers are already filling out some of the same forms.
The agency didn’t study the time factor so they don’t know how long it will take Arizona CPS social workers to fill out the form, but they feel this risk assessment is a “critical tool” as it will force CPS caseworkers to “ask the right questions”.
Arizona CPS has been responsible for several recent high-profile deaths of children who had open CPS cases: Tyler Payne, 5; his sister Ariana, 4; and Brandon Williams, 5.
Source: CPS assessment tool raises criticism
Long paperwork said to be thorough, but system is based on 1986 model by Josh Brodesky of the Arizona Daily Star
I live in Washington State and they seem to be a bit ahead of Arizona CPS, but remember they lost an 8 year long lawsuit by the National Youth Law group, called the Braam Lawsuit” and as part of the settlement they must make changes. So far, they are behind in the timeline of chages they must make.
What I constantly find curious abiout Arizona though, is their actions with checking facts or details.
In my job, I know I would have been expected to time how long to complete the form, evalute if the form needed to be modified and then test it with my co-workers…None of which was done by Janice Mickens. Mickens seem to be so focused on “statistics” that she does not seem to be able to analyze them or make judgements about their applications.
Comment by Kathleen — July 16, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
i am dealing with CPS in arizona now and i have to tell you they have not done anything to help the children i was ask by CPS to care for.i have so much more to say i just want to make sure this is the place to say some of these things.As i do not want to have the childern removed.
Comment by Cynthia — November 9, 2007 @ 4:56 pm
cynthia sounds like you are a foster parent here in az. i am a grandma of two angel boys in foster care. i need help. they dont want me to get them for they are afraid i cant protect them from there own mom. what can i do i dont have money for a lawyer. but i do want to fight for those boys and i want to help others before its too late. please any one help me. sherry
Comment by sherry — December 25, 2007 @ 10:20 am
Cynthia, I took am taking care of 3 children for CPS in AZ. Have you found or being given any help? Where in AZ are you?
Comment by Jeanette — January 4, 2008 @ 9:49 am