Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Evidence-Informed Assessment and Practice in Child Welfare pp 99–121Cite as

Assessment Methods

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

An accurate assessment is essential for effective practice. In child welfare, where assessments must depend on direct as well as indirect evidence, data on parental attitudes toward the victim, problem behaviors within the family constellation, and possible compromising psychopathologies can be obtained through the use of standard scales. A variety of objective measures pertinent to the assessment of child abuse and neglect are now available that can be used by practitioners with minimal disruption in terms of time, energy, cost, and ease of administration. The purpose of this chapter is to review a variety of instruments that child-welfare workers, specifically, and practitioners involved in children’s services, in general, can use in the assessment and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aarons, G. A., James, S., Monn, A. R., Raghavan, R., Wells, R. S., & Leslie, L. K. (2010). Behavior problems and placement changes in a national child welfare sample: A prospective study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(1), 70–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allwood, M. A., & Widom, C. S. (2013). Child abuse and neglect, developmental role attainment and adult arrests. Journal of Research in Crime and Deliquency, 50(4), 7–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barakat, L. P., & Alderfer, M. A. (2011). Introduction to special issue: Advancing the science of family assessment in pediatric psychology. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 36(5), 489–493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellamy, J. L. (2008). A national study of male involvement among families in contact with the child welfare system. Child Maltreatment, 14(3), 255–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J (1993). Etiology of child maltreatment: A developmental-ecological analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 114(3), 413–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Arieh, A. (2010). From child welfare to children well-being: The child indicators perspective. From Child Welfare to Child Well-Being Children’s Well-Being: Indicators and Research, 1, 9–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, A. M., Knutson, J. F., Mehm, J. G., & Perkins, K. A. (1988). The self-report of punitive childhood experiences of young adults and adolescents. Child Abuse and Neglect, 12, 251–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, D. P., Stein, J. A., Newcomb, M. D., Walker, E., Pogge, D., Ahluvalia, T., Stoke, J., Handelsman, L., Medrano, M., Desmond, D., & Zule, W. (2003). Development and validation of a brief screening version of the childhood trauma questionnaire. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(2), 169–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broadhurst, K., Hall, C., Wastell, D., White, S., & Pithouse, A. (2010). Risk, instrumentalism and the Humane Project in Social Work: Identifying the informal logics of risk management in children’s statutory services. British Journal of Social Work, 40(4), 1046–1064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broten, L. A., Naugle, A. E., Kalata, A. H., & Gaynor, S. T. (2011). Depression and a stepped care model. Stepped Care and e-health, 17–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. S., Edmunds, J. M., Brodman, D. M., Benjamin, C. L., & Kendall, P. C. (2012). Using self-monitoring: Implementation of collaborative empiricism in cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 19, 37–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corcoran, J., & Pillai, V. (2009). A review of the research on solution-focused therapy. British Journal of Social Work, 39(2), 234–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, B., Taylor, J., & Scott, J. (2010). Recognition of neglect and early response: Overview of systematic review of the literature. Child and Family Social Work, 15(2), 248–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Draine, J. (2013). Mental health, mental illnesses, poverty, justice, and social justice. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 16(2), 87–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dubowitz, H., Kim, J., Black, M. M., Weisbart, C., Semiatin, J., & Magder, L. S. (2011). Identifying children at high risk for child maltreatment report. Child Abuse and Neglect, 35(2), 96–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edleson, J. L., Shin, N., & Armendariz, K. K. (2007). Measuring children’s exposure to domestic violence: The development and testing of the child exposure to domestic violence scale (CEDV). Children and Youth Services Review, 31(2), 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fallon, B., Trocme, N., Fluke, J., MacLaurin, B., Tonmyr, L., & Yuan, Y. (2010). Methodological challenges in measuring child maltreatment. Child Abuse and Neglect, 34(1), 70–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feindler, E. L., Rathus, J. H., & Silver, L. B. (2003). Assessment of family violence: A handbook for researchers and practitioners. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • French, L. A., Kovacevic, G., & Nikolic-Novakovic, L. (2013). Assessing the aftermath of war among teens in Bosnia & Serbia: measures of substance abuse and delinquency with the POSIT (Problem-Oriented Screening Instrument for Teens). Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 31(1), 95–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friend, A. C., Summers, J. A., & Turnbull, A. P. (2009). Impacts of family support in early childhood intervention research. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 44(4), 453–470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garbarino, J. (2013). The emotionally battered child. Child Maltreatment, 1, 57–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb, B. H., & Bergen, A. E. (2010). Social support concepts and measures. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 69(5), 511–520.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hur, Y., & Testerman, R. (2012). An index of child well-being at a local level in the U.S.: The case of North Carolina Counties. Child Indicators Research, 5(1), 29–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irish, L., Kobayashi, I., & Delahanty, D. L. (2010). Long-term physical health consequences of childhood sexual abuse: A meta-analysis review. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 35(5), 450–461.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Berglund, P., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., Heeringa, S., Jin, R., Pennell, B. E., Keyes, K. M., Eaton, N. R., & Krueger, R. F. (2011). Childhood maltreatment and the structure of common psychiatric disorders. British Journal of Psychology. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.093062.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keyes, K., Eaton, N. & Krueger, R. (2011). Childhood maltreatment and the structure of common psychiatric disorders. British Journal of Psychology, doi:I 0.1 I 92/bjp.bp. I I 1.093062.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., & Cicchetti, D. (2009). Longitudinal pathways linking child maltreatment, emotional regulation, peer relations, and psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 51(6), 706–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimonis, E. R. & Frick, P. J. (2011). Clinical Handbook of Assessing and Treating Conduct Problems in Youth. Etiology of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder: Biological, familial and environmental factors identified in the development of disruptive behavior disorders (pp. 49–76). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kutlay, S., Kucukdeveci, A. A., Elhan, A. A., & Tennant, A. (2009). Validation of the behavioral inattention test (BIT) in patients with acquired brain injury in Turkey. Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: An International Journal, 19(3), 461–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaFreniere, P. J. & Dumas, J. E. (1996). Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation in Children Aged Three to Six: The Short Form (SCBE-30). Psychological Assessment, 8(4), 369–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lietz, C. A., & Strength, M. (2011). Stories of successful reunification: A narrative study of family resilience in child welfare. The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 92(2), 203–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lietz, C. A., Lacasse, J. R., & Cacciatore, J. (2011). Social support in family reunification: A qualitative study. Journal of Family Social Work, 14(1), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipscomb, S. T., Lewis, K. M., Masyn, K. E., & Meloy, M. E. (2012). Child care assistance for families involved in the child welfare system: Predicting child care subsidy use and stability. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(12), 2454–2463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lou, C., Anthony, E. K., Stone, S., Vu, C. M., & Austin, M. J. (2013). Evidence for Child Welfare Practice. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, Y. E., Ain, E., Chamorro, C., Chang, C., Feng, J. Y., Fong, R., Garcia, B., Hawkins, R. L., & Yu, M. (2011). A new methodology for assessing Social Work Practice: The adaptation for the objective structure clinical evaluation. Social Work Education: The International Journal, 30(2), 170–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, K. H., Iokenstad, T., Pawar, M., Iuegler, N., & Hall, N. (2012). The SAGE handbook of international social work. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKenzie, M. J., Kotch, J. B., & Lee, L. (2011). Toward a cumulative ecological risk model for the etiology of child maltreatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 33(9), 1638–1647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mannarino, A. P., Cohen, J. A., Deblinger, E., Ruyon, M. K., & Steer, R. A. (2012). Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for children. Child Maltreatment, 17(3), 231–241.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh, H. W., Scalas, L. F., & Nagengast, B. (2010). Longitudinal tests of competing factor structures for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Traits, ephemeral artifacts, and stable response styles. Psychological Assessment, 22(2), 366–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLeod, B. D., & Weisz, J. R. (2010). The therapy process observational coding system for child psychotherapy strategies scale. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 39(3), 436–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Medley, A., & Ericsson-Sachs, N. (2009). Predictors of parental physical abuse: The contribution of internalizing and externalizing disorders and childhood experiences of abuse. Journal of Affective Disorders, 113, 244–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messing, J. T., Flair, L. L., Cavanaugh, C. E., Kanga, M. R., & Campbell, J. C. (2012). Testing posttraumatic stress as a mediator of childhood trauma and adult intimate partner violence victimization. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 21(7), 792–811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezuk, B., Rafferty, J. A., Kershaw, K. N., Hudson, D., Abdou, C. M., Lee, H., Eaton, W. W., & Jackson, J. S. (2010). Reconsidering the role of social disadvantage in physical and mental health: Stressful life events, health behaviors, race, and depression. American Journal of Epidemiology, 172(11), 1238–1249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller-Perrin, C. L., & Portwood, S. G. (2013). Child and family advocacy: Bridging the gaps between research practice and policy. Child Maltreatment Prevention (pp. 51–71). New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, R., Scott, J., Alati, R., O’Callaghan, M., Najman, K. M., & Strathearn, L. (2013). Child maltreatment and adolescent mental health problems in a large birth cohort. Child Abuse and Neglect, 37(5), 292–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milot, T., St. Laurent, D., Ethier, L., & Provost, M. A. (2010). Child Maltreatment, 15(4), 293–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morawska, A., Sanders, M., Goadby, E., Headley, C., Hodge, L., McAuliffe, C., Pope, S., & Anderson, E. (2011). Is the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program acceptable to parents from culturally diverse backgrounds? Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20(5), 614–622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, E., Dubois-Comtois, K., Cyr, C., Tarabulsy, G. M., St-Laurent, D., & Bernier, A. (2011). Efficacy of a home-visiting intervention aimed at improving maternal sensitivity, child attachment, and behavioral outcomes for maltreated children: A randomized control trial. Developmental and Psychopathology, 23(1), 195–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okado, Y., & Azar, S. T. (2011). The impact of extreme emotional distance in the mother-child relationship on the offspring’s future risk of maltreatment perpetration. Journal of Family Violence, 26(6), 439–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. M., & Ryan, J. P. (2008). Placement and permanency outcomes for children in out-of-home care by prior inpatient mental health treatment. Research on Social Work Practice, 19(1), 42–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pelaez, A. L., & Sanchez-Cabezudo, S. S. (2013). Empowerment, well-being and the welfare state: Family social work in spain. Family Well-Being Social Indicators Research Services, 49, 277–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira, J., Vickers, K., Atikinson, L., Gonzalez, A., Wekerele, C., & Levitan, R. (2012). Parenting stress mediates between maternal maltreatment history and maternal sensitivity in a community sample. Child Abuse and Neglect, 36(5), 433–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petra, M., & Kohl, P. (2010). Pathways Triple P and the child welfare system: a promising fit. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(4), 611–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pina, A. A., Little, M., Wynne, H., & Beidel, D. C. (2013). Assessing social anxiety in African American youth using the social phobia and anxiety inventory for children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42(2), 311–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powers, M. B., Halpern, J. M., Ferenschak, M. P., Gillihan, S. J., & Foa, E. B. (2010). A meta- analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(6), 635–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyome, N. D. (2010). Childhood emotional maltreatment and later intimate relationships: Themes from the empirical literature. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, 19(2), 224–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Richard, D. C. S., & Iuprich, S. K. (2011). Clinical Psychology: Assessment, treatment, and research. Burlington: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riesch, S. K., Anderson, L. S., Pridham, K. A., Lutz, K. F., & Becker, P. T. (2010). Furthering the understanding of parent-child relationships: A nursing scholarship review series. Part 5: Parent-adolescent and teen parent-child relationships. Journal of Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 15(3), 182–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rijlaarsdam, J., Stevens, G. W., van der Ende, J., Arends, L. R., Hofman, A., Jaddoe, V. W. V., Mackenbach, J. P., Verhulst, F. C., & Tiemeier, H. (2012). A brief observational instrument for the assessment of infant home environment: Development and psychometric testing. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 21(3), 195–204.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivas, E. M., Handler, L., & Sims, C. R. (2009). Adult attachment measures and their potential utility in custody cases. Journal of Child Custody, 6(1–2), 25–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanford, K. (2007). The couple’s emotion rating form: Psychometric properties and theoretical associations. Psychological Assessment, 19(4), 411–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serbati, S., Pivetti, M., & Gioga, G. (2013). Child well-being scales (CWBS) in the assessment of families and children in home-care intervention: An empirical study. Child and Family Social Work. doi:10.1111/cfs.12094.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sherman, R., & Freman, N. (2013). Handbook of measurements for marriage and family therapy. Philadelphia: Brunner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stith, S. M., Liu, T., Davies, L. C., Boykin, E. L., Alder, M. C., Harris, J. M., Som, A., McPherson, M., & Dees, J. E. (2009). Risk factors in child maltreatment: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Aggression and Violent Behaviors, 14(1), 13–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storer, H. L., Barkan, S. E., Sherman, E. L., Haggerty, K. P., & Mattos, L. M. (2012). Promoting relationship building and connection: Adapting an evidence-based parenting program for families involved in the child welfare system. Children and Youth Services Review, 34(9), 1853–1861.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swenson, C. C., Schaeffer, C. M., Henggeler, S. W., Faldowski, R., & Mayhew, A. M. (2010). Multi-systemic therapy for child abuse and neglect: A randomized effectiveness trial. Journal of Family Psychology, 24(4), 497–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanigawa, D., Furlong, M. J., Felix, E. D., & Sharkey, J. D. (2011). The protective role of perceived social support against the manifestation of depressive symptoms in peer victims. Journal of School Violence, 10(4), 393–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tolle, L. W. & O’Donohue, W. T. (2012). Improving the Quality of Child Custody Evaluations: A Systematic Model. New York: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Trickett, P. K., Negriff, S., Ji, J., & Peckins, M. (2011). Child maltreatment and adolescent development. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 21(1), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, C. A., & Davies, J. (2010). A critical review of the psychometric evidence base of child abuse potential inventory. Journal of Family Violence, 25(2), 215–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waller, T., & Bitou, A. (2011). Research with children: Three challenges for participatory research in early childhood. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 19(1), 5–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, C. A., MacMillan, H. L., Trocme, N., Jamieson, E., & Boyle, M. H. (2008). Measures of victimization in adolescence: Development and validation of the childhood experiences of violence questionnaire. Child Abuse and Neglect, 32, 1037–1057.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, E. E., Zaslavsky, A., & Zheng, H. (2004). The U.S. national comorbidity survey replication (NCS-R): Design and field procedures. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, 13(2), 69–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weberling, L. C., Forgays, D. K., Crain-Thoreson, C., & Hyman, I. (2003). Prenatal child abuse risk assessment: A preliminary study. Child Welfare League of America, 32, 319–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wekerle, C. (2013). Resilience in the context of child maltreatment: Connections to the practice of mandatory reporting. Child Abuse and Neglect, 37(2–3), 93–101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, M., & Correia, M. (2010). Reentry into out-of-home care: Implications of child welfare workers’ assessments of risk and safety. Social Work Research, 36(3), 181–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, A., & Bolton, J. (2010). Family issues. Handbook of Clinical Psychology Competencies, 1, 1655–1684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yasui, M., & Dishion, T. J. (2008). Direct observation of family management: Validity and reliability as a function of coder ethnicity and training. Behavior Therapy, 39, 336–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA

    John S. Wodarski

Authors
  1. John S. Wodarski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John S. Wodarski .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA

    John S. Wodarski

  2. School of Social Work, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    Michael J. Holosko

  3. Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Marvin D. Feit

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Department of Health and Human Services Structured Decision Making http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/assessment/approaches/decision.cfm

Assessing Promising Approaches in Child Welfare: Strategies for State Legislators http://www.ncsl.org/documents/cyf/promising_approaches_childwelfare.pdf

Department of Health and Human Services Child Neglect: A Guide for Prevention, Assessment & Intervention http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/neglect/chaptersix.cfm

Annie E Casey Foundation The Child Welfare Strategy Group http://www.aecf.org/work/child-welfare/child-welfare-strategy-group/

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wodarski, J. (2015). Assessment Methods. In: Wodarski, J., Holosko, M., Feit, M. (eds) Evidence-Informed Assessment and Practice in Child Welfare. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12045-4_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation