What is a risk assessment in child welfare?

A risk assessment in child welfare is fundamentally a tool used to evaluate the potential risk of harm to a child. This assessment helps child welfare professionals identify danger signs that may indicate whether a child's safety is at risk, often considering a variety of factors such as family history, parental behavior, and environmental conditions. The goal is to determine the likelihood that a child may face abuse or neglect, enabling appropriate interventions and support to be put in place to protect the child.

Understanding how this process operates is crucial for ensuring that children receive the necessary protections. It goes beyond merely documenting cases of child abuse, as it specifically focuses on potential risks and helps in decision-making about the child's welfare. While the concept of measuring community support resources is important for holistic child welfare, it does not directly address the immediate evaluation of harm to the child, which is the primary focus of a risk assessment.