What is the Ontario Risk Assessment Model?

The Risk Assessment Model defines how cases are investigated and determines follow-up steps for cases where a risk of harm exists. The Model's procedures are mandatory for all child protection work done by Children's Aid Societies in Ontario.

Where a referral meets the eligibility criteria as a child welfare concern and a decision has been made to conduct an investigation, the severity of the concerns determines how quickly the social worker must act. Extremely severe cases require that the child be seen within 12 hours of receipt of the information. Other cases should be seen within 7 days.

Within 24 hours of seeing a child, the social worker must determine if there are any immediate safety concerns for the child and act accordingly to ensure the child's safety. This decision includes a number of considerations such as whether a child needs medical care or whether the child's residence is appropriate or safe while the investigation is taking place. Child protection workers are authorized under the Child and Family Services Act to apprehend children from the care of their parents where no lesser alternative would appear to ensure the child's safety. The safety assessment in each case requires the approval of the social worker's supervisor, including a decision to apprehend a child.

If an investigation concludes that the referral was groundless and there is no risk of harm to a child, the case is closed, and no further action is required. In 2000-2001 almost 75% of the over 600 investigations completed by Family and Children's Services of St. Thomas and Elgin were closed following the investigation.

If the investigation concludes that the complaint is verified and there are child protection concerns, the child may be in need of protection as defined in the Child and Family Services Act. In these instances, the social worker must assess the future risk of harm to any child in the family. This is a complex process using a number of factors learned from information gathered about the child, the child's family and the context of the family's situation. The social worker seeks to balance the family's strengths with weaknesses, recognizing the unique needs of each child or family, including cultural or religious considerations. However, the overall safety of a child is paramount. Families are assessed and classified in one of the following categories: high risk, moderately high risk, intermediate risk, moderately low risk or low/no risk. All risk assessments are approved by the social worker's supervisor.

Families with a moderately high or higher risk rating are flagged for ongoing monitoring and service provision. This occurred in about 25% of the over 600 cases investigated in 2000-01 by Family and Children's Services. The social worker develops a service plan to address the areas of concern in cooperation with the family and other possible resources. Examples of services provided both by the Society and by other community agencies include individual, family or marriage counselling, parent education, medical or other health services, employment or housing services, education services etc. The Children's Aid Society social worker monitors the child, the family and the services provided to determine if the reasons for service continue to be present, and whether the services provided are addressing the risk issues. The case cannot be closed until the risk has been adequately reduced.

• Read about Sheena Ewen, a real-life Child Protection Worker at FACS-Elgin who makes tough decisions every day using the Eligibility Spectrum.