Introduction to the Domains
In-service training presentation for Southern Region – Sept 2012
Broward County Sheriff’s Office – Child Protective Investigations Section
•
Learning Objectives
1. Understand why we are
shifting to the safety
framework
2. Identify the six domains
•
Why Change?
1. Our mission is to ensure child safety
2. To do that, we need more information
about the family than simply the
whether or not there was maltreatment
3. For example, home has hazardous
conditions, but may have underlying
mental health issues/other issues
What is a “safe child”?
• No threats of danger exist, or
• Parents possess protective
capacities to manage any threats
What is an “unsafe“ child?
Threats of
danger
exist
Children
are
vulnerable
to those
threats
Parents
have
insufficient
protective
capacities
to manage
threats
In order to really know if a child is safe or unsafe, we need to
understand how the family functions. To do that, we have to
understand what is happening in the six domains listed below:
Child’s
day to day
functioning?
Extent of
maltreatment
Disciplinary
Practices
Circumstances
surrounding the
maltreatment
General
Parenting
Child
Functioning
Adult
Functioning
Concerned with facts
& evidence of actual
maltreating behavior
Worker’s
Observations
Interviews
and
Supporting Evidence
Experts such as LEO,
CPT, Mental Health,
Substance Abuse,
Domestic Violence
professionals
Includes verification
about type of
Maltreatment
consistent with
finding
Surrounding or
Accompanying
Circumstances
Qualifies
Maltreatment as to
what preceded or
led up to the event
Or existed while
the maltreatment
was occurring
Greater
understanding as
to seriousness of
maltreatment
• Considered w/respect to age appropriateness of the child
• Must have working knowledge of child development
• Assess trust, motor skills, intellect, emotion, play, eating & sleep
habits
• Skills & communication
• Independence & assertiveness
• Physical capabilities including vulnerabilities
• Emphasis is on general behaviors, emotions,
rather than the intervention
Strictly about caregivers in their everyday lives
Concerned with life management
Social relationships, problem solving
Intellect
Stress Management
Role performance influenced by Mental Health & Substance Abuse
Individual’s history [i.e.: criminal, employment, relationships, etc]
Distinctly
Centered on
overall
parenting
Can not allow
the overall
maltreatment
to overshadow
information
Parenting
Experiences
Their
viewpoint
towards
children
General
Parenting
Expectation of
children
Communication
Basic style and
care & the
origin of their
beliefs.
Focuses on one area –
discipline of the child
Includes parent’s
method & source of
method
Parenting
Discipline
Purpose or reasons for
discipline [i.e.: “My
parents spanked me & I
am ok.” ]
Expectations of the
discipline
[i.e.: Change behavior
or punish]
• For the PI, safety can only be determined if you can understand
and explain what is happening within the six domains of the
family.
• For the case manager, enhanced protective capacity for the
parents and the safety of the child , (not compliance with case
plans) will be the drivers that determine whether you can close
a case or return a child home.
• Remember- a safe child is one where no threats exist, or the
parents possess sufficient protective capacity to keep the child
safe from the threats.
Questions?