CERAP
Safety Threat Assessment - Answer-Safety threats are behaviors or conditions that may be associated
with a child or children being in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future.
"clear evidence or other cause for concern."
Safety Threat Criteria - Answer-The simple presence of any one of the listed behaviors and/or
conditions does not, in and of itself, mean that a child should be determined to be unsafe but are to be
considered!
Child Vulnerability: - Answer-Factors that influence a child's vulnerability include, but are not limited to:
• Younger children who lack good verbal skills, in particular, non-verbal children.
• Children affected by developmental disabilities/deficits.
• Children who have serious medical problems.
• Children who exhibit psychological, emotional, or behavioral problems.
Severity of the Behavior/Condition: - Answer-Severity of a safety threat must be considered within the
context of the other safety threat criteria, child vulnerability and the history of safety threats. Severity
may refer to the degree or extend of an alleged maltreatment incident e.g., a child with multiple and/or
serious injuries or it may refer to the degree to which a caregiver's behavior threatens child safety, e.g.,
a caregiver whose substance abuse is severe enough to threaten child safety.
, History: - Answer-A safety threat must be considered in the context of any known or alleged previous
examples of safety threats. Anecdotal reports about safety threats must be considered, but attempts
must be made to verify the information with credible sources. Chronic safety threats must be assessed
as posing greater danger to children. Any prior child abuse/neglect history and/or criminal arrest and
conviction records, if available, must be evaluated and taken into consideration with respect to child
safety.
Safety Threat Identification - Answer-Once a safety threat has determined that a child is not safe,
identify:
• All children affected.
• The caregiver(s) responsible for creating or allowing the safety threat.
• The source of information identifying the safety threat.
Safety Threats - Answer-1. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household whose behavior is, or
has been, violent and out of control.
2. A caregiver, paramour or member of a household suspected of abuse or neglect that resulted in
moderate to severe harm to a child or who has made a plausible threat of such harm to a child.
3. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household who has a documented history of perpetrating
child abuse/neglect or any person for whom there is a reasonable cause to believe that he/she
previously abused or neglected a child. The severity of that maltreatment, coupled with the caregiver's
failure to protect, suggests that child safety may be an urgent and immediate concern.
4. Child sexual abuse is suspected and circumstances suggest that child safety may be an immediate
concern.
5. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household is hiding the child, refuses access, or there is
some indication that a caregiver may flee with the child.
6. Child is fearful of his/her home situation because of the people living in or frequenting the home.
7. A caregiver, paramour, or member of the household describes or acts toward the child in a
predominantly negative manner.
8. A caregiver, paramour, or member of the household has dangerously unrealistic expectations for the
child.
Safety Threat Assessment - Answer-Safety threats are behaviors or conditions that may be associated
with a child or children being in danger of moderate to severe harm immediately or in the near future.
"clear evidence or other cause for concern."
Safety Threat Criteria - Answer-The simple presence of any one of the listed behaviors and/or
conditions does not, in and of itself, mean that a child should be determined to be unsafe but are to be
considered!
Child Vulnerability: - Answer-Factors that influence a child's vulnerability include, but are not limited to:
• Younger children who lack good verbal skills, in particular, non-verbal children.
• Children affected by developmental disabilities/deficits.
• Children who have serious medical problems.
• Children who exhibit psychological, emotional, or behavioral problems.
Severity of the Behavior/Condition: - Answer-Severity of a safety threat must be considered within the
context of the other safety threat criteria, child vulnerability and the history of safety threats. Severity
may refer to the degree or extend of an alleged maltreatment incident e.g., a child with multiple and/or
serious injuries or it may refer to the degree to which a caregiver's behavior threatens child safety, e.g.,
a caregiver whose substance abuse is severe enough to threaten child safety.
, History: - Answer-A safety threat must be considered in the context of any known or alleged previous
examples of safety threats. Anecdotal reports about safety threats must be considered, but attempts
must be made to verify the information with credible sources. Chronic safety threats must be assessed
as posing greater danger to children. Any prior child abuse/neglect history and/or criminal arrest and
conviction records, if available, must be evaluated and taken into consideration with respect to child
safety.
Safety Threat Identification - Answer-Once a safety threat has determined that a child is not safe,
identify:
• All children affected.
• The caregiver(s) responsible for creating or allowing the safety threat.
• The source of information identifying the safety threat.
Safety Threats - Answer-1. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household whose behavior is, or
has been, violent and out of control.
2. A caregiver, paramour or member of a household suspected of abuse or neglect that resulted in
moderate to severe harm to a child or who has made a plausible threat of such harm to a child.
3. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household who has a documented history of perpetrating
child abuse/neglect or any person for whom there is a reasonable cause to believe that he/she
previously abused or neglected a child. The severity of that maltreatment, coupled with the caregiver's
failure to protect, suggests that child safety may be an urgent and immediate concern.
4. Child sexual abuse is suspected and circumstances suggest that child safety may be an immediate
concern.
5. A caregiver, paramour or member of the household is hiding the child, refuses access, or there is
some indication that a caregiver may flee with the child.
6. Child is fearful of his/her home situation because of the people living in or frequenting the home.
7. A caregiver, paramour, or member of the household describes or acts toward the child in a
predominantly negative manner.
8. A caregiver, paramour, or member of the household has dangerously unrealistic expectations for the
child.
