CWCM PRE-SERVICE EXAM STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS | SCORED A+ | NEW UPDATE 2025
adoption and safe families act - ANSWER federal law stating permanency must
be finalized within 12 months. child's health and safety is paramount concern.
states must preserve and reunify families, place child in timely manner.
special immigant juvenile status - ANSWER federal law that assists
undocumented children in obtaining legal permanentt residency. able to remain
and work in US, qualify for in state tuition and apply for citizenship. can be
deported if not granted.
Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 - ANSWER national
minimum standards for activities in the child welfare system. requires for case
plans to include permanence goals and are reviewed every 6 months to ensure
goals are revised and updated.
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 -
ANSWER kinship guardianship assistance option on behalf of children who
have been in foster care of whom a relative is taking legal guardianship
Indian Child Welfare Act - ANSWER protects native american heritage under
federal law; if a native american child is involved in dependency case, the triabl
court can take control or intervene the case. requires CWCM to always determine
if child is of native american heritage. DCF has no jurisdiction on Indian
reservations.
,interstate compact on the placement of children - ANSWER procedures for
children placed across state lines. sending state retains jurisdiction and financial
responsibility for child. cannot place without approval of compact admin of
receiving state.
child welfare core principles - ANSWER 1. health and safety of children is
paramount concern
2. prevention/intervention by child protection system should engage families in
constructive, supportive and non-adversarial relationships
3. prevention/intervention should intrude as little as possible into the life of the
family, focused on clearly defined objectives
4. prevention/intervention should be based upon outcomes eval results that
demonstrate success in protecting children and supporting families
"child" legal definition - ANSWER any unmarried person under the age of 18
years who has not been emancipated by order of the court.
birth to 3
teen years - ANSWER critical windows of development, uniquely tied to brain
development and the relationship child has with their environment
neglect - ANSWER most common maltreatment among infants
birth to 5 - ANSWER children in this age range are the most represented in the
child welfare system
,reunification - ANSWER when children are removed from birth, this is not a
good outcome for:
1. stability in out of home care (no more than 2 moves)
2. achievement of permanency within 12 months of removal - ANSWER 2 most
important performance measures within child well-being for child welfare system
are:
protective capacities - ANSWER personal characteristics that specifically and
directly relate to the protection of one's child.
trauma - ANSWER an emotional response to an event. can be intense,
distressing painful and overwhelm your ability to cope. from direct involvement or
witnessing an event.
adverse childhood experience study - ANSWER study on how childhood
traumatic experiences affect adult health. ACE's rated on a scale of 1-10. the
higher the score, the higher their likelihood for risky behaviors in adult hood.
comparison study.
nurturing and attachment
knowledge of parenting and child development
parental resilience
social connections
concrete supports
social and emotional competence of children - ANSWER 6 protective factors
, caregiver protective capacities - ANSWER takes action
sets aside own needs
demonstrates adequate skills
history of protecting
self-aware
intellectual able/capable
understand threats to child
recognized child needs
understands protective role
articulates plan to protect
able to meet own needs
resilient as a caregiver
tolerant as a caregiver
express love, empathy and sensitivity towards child
able to intervene to protect child
positively attached to child
aligned with child
parents with PTSD - ANSWER report more bx problems in children
difficult for parent to concentrate/learn new parenting skills
less likely to respond to child's needs
more difficult to providers to get sufficient hx
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS | SCORED A+ | NEW UPDATE 2025
adoption and safe families act - ANSWER federal law stating permanency must
be finalized within 12 months. child's health and safety is paramount concern.
states must preserve and reunify families, place child in timely manner.
special immigant juvenile status - ANSWER federal law that assists
undocumented children in obtaining legal permanentt residency. able to remain
and work in US, qualify for in state tuition and apply for citizenship. can be
deported if not granted.
Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 - ANSWER national
minimum standards for activities in the child welfare system. requires for case
plans to include permanence goals and are reviewed every 6 months to ensure
goals are revised and updated.
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 -
ANSWER kinship guardianship assistance option on behalf of children who
have been in foster care of whom a relative is taking legal guardianship
Indian Child Welfare Act - ANSWER protects native american heritage under
federal law; if a native american child is involved in dependency case, the triabl
court can take control or intervene the case. requires CWCM to always determine
if child is of native american heritage. DCF has no jurisdiction on Indian
reservations.
,interstate compact on the placement of children - ANSWER procedures for
children placed across state lines. sending state retains jurisdiction and financial
responsibility for child. cannot place without approval of compact admin of
receiving state.
child welfare core principles - ANSWER 1. health and safety of children is
paramount concern
2. prevention/intervention by child protection system should engage families in
constructive, supportive and non-adversarial relationships
3. prevention/intervention should intrude as little as possible into the life of the
family, focused on clearly defined objectives
4. prevention/intervention should be based upon outcomes eval results that
demonstrate success in protecting children and supporting families
"child" legal definition - ANSWER any unmarried person under the age of 18
years who has not been emancipated by order of the court.
birth to 3
teen years - ANSWER critical windows of development, uniquely tied to brain
development and the relationship child has with their environment
neglect - ANSWER most common maltreatment among infants
birth to 5 - ANSWER children in this age range are the most represented in the
child welfare system
,reunification - ANSWER when children are removed from birth, this is not a
good outcome for:
1. stability in out of home care (no more than 2 moves)
2. achievement of permanency within 12 months of removal - ANSWER 2 most
important performance measures within child well-being for child welfare system
are:
protective capacities - ANSWER personal characteristics that specifically and
directly relate to the protection of one's child.
trauma - ANSWER an emotional response to an event. can be intense,
distressing painful and overwhelm your ability to cope. from direct involvement or
witnessing an event.
adverse childhood experience study - ANSWER study on how childhood
traumatic experiences affect adult health. ACE's rated on a scale of 1-10. the
higher the score, the higher their likelihood for risky behaviors in adult hood.
comparison study.
nurturing and attachment
knowledge of parenting and child development
parental resilience
social connections
concrete supports
social and emotional competence of children - ANSWER 6 protective factors
, caregiver protective capacities - ANSWER takes action
sets aside own needs
demonstrates adequate skills
history of protecting
self-aware
intellectual able/capable
understand threats to child
recognized child needs
understands protective role
articulates plan to protect
able to meet own needs
resilient as a caregiver
tolerant as a caregiver
express love, empathy and sensitivity towards child
able to intervene to protect child
positively attached to child
aligned with child
parents with PTSD - ANSWER report more bx problems in children
difficult for parent to concentrate/learn new parenting skills
less likely to respond to child's needs
more difficult to providers to get sufficient hx
