This second edition of Helping in Child Protective Services: A Competency-Based Casework Handbook is a comprehensive desk reference that serves as both a daily guide for workers and a training tool for supervisors and administrators. This invaluable resource provides CPS workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to assist vulnerable families, covering such key issues as assessment, decision making, intervention, child development, medical evaluation, accountability, and the legal framework of culturally responsive practice. This handbook equips CPS professionals and students to follow the casework process from intake through case closure with step-by-step instructions and examples. Chapters cover child development, key developmental milestones, and the importance of intervention; medical evaluation of child abuse and neglect; how to structure interviews and phrase questions to obtain information from families and guide the casework process; and the importance of accountable practice to families, their agencies, and the public. This latest edition of Helping in Child Protective Services compiles the most up-to-date research and practice information to help professionals provide the highest quality and most innovative services to children and families.

Provides the foundation for casework practice in Child Protective Services (CPS). Describes the basic stages of the CPS process and the steps necessary to accomplish successfully each stage: intake, initial assessment/investigation, family assessment, case planning, service provision, and evaluation of family progress and case closure. Designed primarily for CPS caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators. Glossary. Bibiography.

This comprehensive handbook is a useful tool for practitioners in understanding the casework process. Chapters cover child development, intervention with families and medical evaluation of child abuse and neglect and how to interview in child protective services.