DCFS PLACEMENT EXAM 2 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPLETE CHILD WELFARE PRACTICES AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Child welfare professionals as change agents help to. Answer: help
families to identify their own problems and help families to
recognize their strengths
◉ 4 Stages of Interviewing. Answer: -social
-problem definition/needs identification
-focus
-closure
◉ Positive reframing. Answer: a cognitive-behavioral technique
involving turning negative messages into positive ones
◉ solution-focused questions. Answer: help the client picture a
preferred alternate future
◉ order of placement for a child:. Answer: 1) with a non-custodial
parent
2) with siblings in care
,3) with other relatives
4) with foster caregiver
◉ child and family team meetings. Answer: frequent meetings with
families and those involved with serving families are required to
plan, assess programs, and decide permanency direction
◉ CANS assessment. Answer: gathers information about the child,
not the services they need
◉ Dual mandate. Answer: Protecting children and supporting
families
◉ 4 types of supervision. Answer: 1. Educational: directed toward
helping staff learn what they need to know to carry out their job
responsibilities;
2. Supportive: directed toward creating a positive psychological and
physical climate for staff;
3. Administrative: focuses on job performance and how it is related
to the agency's mission;
4. Clinical: directed toward clinical interventions.
, ◉ Steps of a placement planning case. Answer: 1: The DCFS / SCR
(State Central Registry) is called by a mandated reporter
2: DCP opens the case or CPI
3: Investigation occurs
4: DCP attempts to keep the family reunified
5: Protective Custody (PC) if taken
6: The DCP worker prior to placement takes the child(ren) for a
Health Works Screen
7: CAPU (Case assignment Unit)
8: TC (temporary custody) hearing occurs also called the shelter
care hearing
9: Handoff from DCP (department of Child Protection) also referred
to as CPI (Child
Protection Investigator) to the placement worker (between DCP
worker and agency)
10: Placement supervisor assigns case to the placement caseworker.
11: Transitional visit between the CPI and the Assigned Placement
agency (in the home of the parent where the DFCS worker is
transferring the case to the home)
12: First family meeting (this is not the CFTM) this occurs at 48
hours from case assignment
13: First Parent / Child visit at 48 hours from PC (Protective
Custody)
COMPLETE CHILD WELFARE PRACTICES AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
◉ Child welfare professionals as change agents help to. Answer: help
families to identify their own problems and help families to
recognize their strengths
◉ 4 Stages of Interviewing. Answer: -social
-problem definition/needs identification
-focus
-closure
◉ Positive reframing. Answer: a cognitive-behavioral technique
involving turning negative messages into positive ones
◉ solution-focused questions. Answer: help the client picture a
preferred alternate future
◉ order of placement for a child:. Answer: 1) with a non-custodial
parent
2) with siblings in care
,3) with other relatives
4) with foster caregiver
◉ child and family team meetings. Answer: frequent meetings with
families and those involved with serving families are required to
plan, assess programs, and decide permanency direction
◉ CANS assessment. Answer: gathers information about the child,
not the services they need
◉ Dual mandate. Answer: Protecting children and supporting
families
◉ 4 types of supervision. Answer: 1. Educational: directed toward
helping staff learn what they need to know to carry out their job
responsibilities;
2. Supportive: directed toward creating a positive psychological and
physical climate for staff;
3. Administrative: focuses on job performance and how it is related
to the agency's mission;
4. Clinical: directed toward clinical interventions.
, ◉ Steps of a placement planning case. Answer: 1: The DCFS / SCR
(State Central Registry) is called by a mandated reporter
2: DCP opens the case or CPI
3: Investigation occurs
4: DCP attempts to keep the family reunified
5: Protective Custody (PC) if taken
6: The DCP worker prior to placement takes the child(ren) for a
Health Works Screen
7: CAPU (Case assignment Unit)
8: TC (temporary custody) hearing occurs also called the shelter
care hearing
9: Handoff from DCP (department of Child Protection) also referred
to as CPI (Child
Protection Investigator) to the placement worker (between DCP
worker and agency)
10: Placement supervisor assigns case to the placement caseworker.
11: Transitional visit between the CPI and the Assigned Placement
agency (in the home of the parent where the DFCS worker is
transferring the case to the home)
12: First family meeting (this is not the CFTM) this occurs at 48
hours from case assignment
13: First Parent / Child visit at 48 hours from PC (Protective
Custody)
