CWA Competency Exam Questions &
Answers 2025/2026
Boundaries (within the family) that regulate physical and emotional distance among the
members are - ANSWERSInternal Boundaries
_________ can apply to tasks such as child rearing, home maintenance, making a living, bill
paying, etc. There are also ______ in relation to the emotional aspects of family life, such as
nurturance, empathy, and problem solving. - ANSWERSRoles
Boundaries (boundaries between the family and others outside the family) regulate distance of
the system and its members and the outside world. - ANSWERSExternal Boundaries
Why are the Federal Child and Family Reviews important to child welfare practice? -
ANSWERSTo see if the state is meeting the desired outcomes of safety, permanency and well-
being and complying with standards for the seven program systems
Related to Parents Rights, what do presumptive rights mean? - ANSWERSSociety presumes they
will provide their children with sufficient care.
Related to Parents Rights, what do conditional rights mean? - ANSWERSThe state has the legal
responsibility to intervene if the child's safety and basic level of well-being is put at risk.
What does it mean that a child's rights are unconditional? - ANSWERSA child always has the
right to safety and to a minimal level of care and nurturance that is needed to keep him or her
safe and to assure a basic level of well being. The child has a right to grow up in a permanent
home and if he or she needs legal representation, to have it.
,What are the three key tenets to the Family Centered Approach? - ANSWERS1.The family is the
focus of attention
2.Strengthening the capacity of families to function effectively is emphasized
3.Families are linked with more comprehensive, diverse, and community-based networks of
supports and services
More children of color in the child welfare system, especially in foster care, than you would
expect given the proportion of all children who live in the state, is a definition of what? -
ANSWERSDisproportionality
Services that are provided unevenly based on a child and family's race/ethnicity, is an example
of what child welfare term? - ANSWERSDisparity
What are the 4 different forms of child maltreatment? - ANSWERSPhysical Abuse
Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Mental Injury
What is the least common form of maltreatment? Why? - ANSWERSMental Injury. It is very
difficult to show credible evidence that meets the findings of indicated.
What is the most common form of maltreatment? Why? - ANSWERSNeglect. The indicators are
often highly visible to the outside world.
What is the definition of child abuse according to MD statute? - ANSWERSPhysical or mental
injury or sexual abuse of a child by any parent or other person with permanent or temporary
care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or family
member. Child's health or welfare is harmed or at substantial risk of being harmed.
, What is the definition of child neglect according to MD statute? - ANSWERSLeaving of a child
unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child. Mental injury to the
child or a substantial risk of mental injury. Child's health or welfare is harmed or at substantial
risk.
What is an Indicator? - ANSWERSInformation that something of concern may be present or may
happen in the future
What are the two categories of indicators? - ANSWERSPhysical indicators: either on the body of
the child (such as marks, bruises or internal injures) or in the environment (such as hazards in
the home).
Behavioral indicators: behaviors of the child or members of the family such as withdrawal,
aggression etc.
What are dynamics? - ANSWERSCharacteristics and patterns of children and caregivers that are
associated with child maltreatment
Do dynamics guarantee abuse or neglect is present? Why? - ANSWERSNo- like with indicators,
there is not a 1:1 correlation between dynamics and maltreatment in a given family (However,
there are certain dynamics more common in families where there is maltreatment)
What is an interviewing technique for use in families where substance abuse is present? -
ANSWERSFunneling questions- a process by which specific questions are asked in a manner that
moves from least intrusive to most sensitive.
When domestic violence is a concern, who are you assessing? - ANSWERSThe victim(s), the
child(ren), the batterer
Answers 2025/2026
Boundaries (within the family) that regulate physical and emotional distance among the
members are - ANSWERSInternal Boundaries
_________ can apply to tasks such as child rearing, home maintenance, making a living, bill
paying, etc. There are also ______ in relation to the emotional aspects of family life, such as
nurturance, empathy, and problem solving. - ANSWERSRoles
Boundaries (boundaries between the family and others outside the family) regulate distance of
the system and its members and the outside world. - ANSWERSExternal Boundaries
Why are the Federal Child and Family Reviews important to child welfare practice? -
ANSWERSTo see if the state is meeting the desired outcomes of safety, permanency and well-
being and complying with standards for the seven program systems
Related to Parents Rights, what do presumptive rights mean? - ANSWERSSociety presumes they
will provide their children with sufficient care.
Related to Parents Rights, what do conditional rights mean? - ANSWERSThe state has the legal
responsibility to intervene if the child's safety and basic level of well-being is put at risk.
What does it mean that a child's rights are unconditional? - ANSWERSA child always has the
right to safety and to a minimal level of care and nurturance that is needed to keep him or her
safe and to assure a basic level of well being. The child has a right to grow up in a permanent
home and if he or she needs legal representation, to have it.
,What are the three key tenets to the Family Centered Approach? - ANSWERS1.The family is the
focus of attention
2.Strengthening the capacity of families to function effectively is emphasized
3.Families are linked with more comprehensive, diverse, and community-based networks of
supports and services
More children of color in the child welfare system, especially in foster care, than you would
expect given the proportion of all children who live in the state, is a definition of what? -
ANSWERSDisproportionality
Services that are provided unevenly based on a child and family's race/ethnicity, is an example
of what child welfare term? - ANSWERSDisparity
What are the 4 different forms of child maltreatment? - ANSWERSPhysical Abuse
Neglect
Sexual Abuse
Mental Injury
What is the least common form of maltreatment? Why? - ANSWERSMental Injury. It is very
difficult to show credible evidence that meets the findings of indicated.
What is the most common form of maltreatment? Why? - ANSWERSNeglect. The indicators are
often highly visible to the outside world.
What is the definition of child abuse according to MD statute? - ANSWERSPhysical or mental
injury or sexual abuse of a child by any parent or other person with permanent or temporary
care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or family
member. Child's health or welfare is harmed or at substantial risk of being harmed.
, What is the definition of child neglect according to MD statute? - ANSWERSLeaving of a child
unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child. Mental injury to the
child or a substantial risk of mental injury. Child's health or welfare is harmed or at substantial
risk.
What is an Indicator? - ANSWERSInformation that something of concern may be present or may
happen in the future
What are the two categories of indicators? - ANSWERSPhysical indicators: either on the body of
the child (such as marks, bruises or internal injures) or in the environment (such as hazards in
the home).
Behavioral indicators: behaviors of the child or members of the family such as withdrawal,
aggression etc.
What are dynamics? - ANSWERSCharacteristics and patterns of children and caregivers that are
associated with child maltreatment
Do dynamics guarantee abuse or neglect is present? Why? - ANSWERSNo- like with indicators,
there is not a 1:1 correlation between dynamics and maltreatment in a given family (However,
there are certain dynamics more common in families where there is maltreatment)
What is an interviewing technique for use in families where substance abuse is present? -
ANSWERSFunneling questions- a process by which specific questions are asked in a manner that
moves from least intrusive to most sensitive.
When domestic violence is a concern, who are you assessing? - ANSWERSThe victim(s), the
child(ren), the batterer
