MONTANA CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORK
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026 |INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary goal of child protective services (CPS)?
A. Remove children from homes quickly
B. Investigate only criminal behavior
C. Ensure child safety and family preservation when possible
D. Provide financial aid to families
Rationale: CPS prioritizes safety while keeping families intact
when safe to do so.
Correct Answer: C. Ensure child safety and family preservation
when possible
2. Which situation requires mandatory reporting?
A. A child has poor grades
B. Suspected child abuse or neglect
C. Parents disagree with school rules
D. Teenage rebellion
Rationale: Professionals must report suspected abuse or
neglect immediately.
Correct Answer: B. Suspected child abuse or neglect
,3. What is the first step in a CPS investigation?
A. Court petition
B. Immediate removal of child
C. Intake and screening
D. Foster placement
Rationale: Intake determines if allegations meet investigation
criteria.
Correct Answer: C. Intake and screening
4. The “best interest of the child” standard refers to:
A. Parental wishes
B. Financial stability only
C. Child safety, emotional, and developmental needs
D. Agency convenience
Rationale: Decisions prioritize child well-being holistically.
Correct Answer: C. Child safety, emotional, and developmental
needs
5. Neglect is best defined as:
A. Intentional physical harm
B. Failure to meet basic needs
C. Verbal abuse only
D. Strict parenting
,Rationale: Neglect involves failure to provide necessities like
food, shelter, or care.
Correct Answer: B. Failure to meet basic needs
6. Which is a sign of physical abuse?
A. High grades
B. Frequent unexplained bruises
C. Shyness
D. Good hygiene
Rationale: Unexplained injuries can indicate abuse.
Correct Answer: B. Frequent unexplained bruises
7. A safety plan is used to:
A. Punish parents
B. Ensure immediate child safety
C. Close cases quickly
D. Replace court orders
Rationale: Safety plans reduce immediate risk while keeping
family intact.
Correct Answer: B. Ensure immediate child safety
8. Confidentiality in CPS cases means:
, A. Information can never be shared
B. Information is shared only with authorized professionals
C. Families decide what is shared
D. Records are public
Rationale: Sharing is restricted but allowed for legal/child
safety purposes.
Correct Answer: B. Information is shared only with authorized
professionals
9. Which is considered emotional abuse?
A. Feeding a child
B. Constant humiliation or rejection
C. Teaching discipline
D. Setting boundaries
Rationale: Emotional abuse harms psychological well-being.
Correct Answer: B. Constant humiliation or rejection
10. What is mandated reporting timeline in most CPS
systems?
A. Within 30 days
B. Immediately or as soon as possible
C. Within 1 week
D. After investigation
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A 2026 |INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the primary goal of child protective services (CPS)?
A. Remove children from homes quickly
B. Investigate only criminal behavior
C. Ensure child safety and family preservation when possible
D. Provide financial aid to families
Rationale: CPS prioritizes safety while keeping families intact
when safe to do so.
Correct Answer: C. Ensure child safety and family preservation
when possible
2. Which situation requires mandatory reporting?
A. A child has poor grades
B. Suspected child abuse or neglect
C. Parents disagree with school rules
D. Teenage rebellion
Rationale: Professionals must report suspected abuse or
neglect immediately.
Correct Answer: B. Suspected child abuse or neglect
,3. What is the first step in a CPS investigation?
A. Court petition
B. Immediate removal of child
C. Intake and screening
D. Foster placement
Rationale: Intake determines if allegations meet investigation
criteria.
Correct Answer: C. Intake and screening
4. The “best interest of the child” standard refers to:
A. Parental wishes
B. Financial stability only
C. Child safety, emotional, and developmental needs
D. Agency convenience
Rationale: Decisions prioritize child well-being holistically.
Correct Answer: C. Child safety, emotional, and developmental
needs
5. Neglect is best defined as:
A. Intentional physical harm
B. Failure to meet basic needs
C. Verbal abuse only
D. Strict parenting
,Rationale: Neglect involves failure to provide necessities like
food, shelter, or care.
Correct Answer: B. Failure to meet basic needs
6. Which is a sign of physical abuse?
A. High grades
B. Frequent unexplained bruises
C. Shyness
D. Good hygiene
Rationale: Unexplained injuries can indicate abuse.
Correct Answer: B. Frequent unexplained bruises
7. A safety plan is used to:
A. Punish parents
B. Ensure immediate child safety
C. Close cases quickly
D. Replace court orders
Rationale: Safety plans reduce immediate risk while keeping
family intact.
Correct Answer: B. Ensure immediate child safety
8. Confidentiality in CPS cases means:
, A. Information can never be shared
B. Information is shared only with authorized professionals
C. Families decide what is shared
D. Records are public
Rationale: Sharing is restricted but allowed for legal/child
safety purposes.
Correct Answer: B. Information is shared only with authorized
professionals
9. Which is considered emotional abuse?
A. Feeding a child
B. Constant humiliation or rejection
C. Teaching discipline
D. Setting boundaries
Rationale: Emotional abuse harms psychological well-being.
Correct Answer: B. Constant humiliation or rejection
10. What is mandated reporting timeline in most CPS
systems?
A. Within 30 days
B. Immediately or as soon as possible
C. Within 1 week
D. After investigation
