2541. Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment

Applies To:  This policy applies to child welfare (CW) employees.

Policy Number & Title:  2541. Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment

Effective Date:  July 1, 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance on how to complete a Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment® (SDMRA). The SDMRA focuses on the characteristics of the caregivers and children or youth living in a household. Completing the SDMRA in conjunction with the Safety Assessment gives caseworkers an objective appraisal of the risk to children or youth and identifies if services are needed.

Authority

RCW 26.44.030  Reports – Duty and authority to make – Duty of receiving agency Duty to notify – Case planning and consultation – Penalty for unauthorized exchange of information – Filing dependency petitions – Investigations– Interviews of children – Record – Risk assessment process
Executive Order 12-04  Amending the Use of Community Protection Teams

Policy

1. Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) must conduct risk assessments when investigating or assessing allegations of child abuse or neglect (CA/N) on screened-in referrals requiring a Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation or Family Assessment Response (FAR). This includes Risk Only intakes. 
2. Caseworkers must: 
   1. Complete risk assessments: 
      1. Using the Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment (SDMRA) DCYF 15-16-208 form in FamLink in the following timeframes from the date of intake: 
         1. 60 days for CPS investigations. 
         2. 60 days for Risk Only intakes. 
         3. 45 days for CPS FAR. 
      2. Prior to offering ongoing services or transferring the case to another program area. 
   2. Offer services to families with a high SDMRA score.
   3. Conduct a Child Protection Team (CPT) staffing for all investigations with a high SDMRA score on all identified child victims age six years or younger, unless a Family Team Decision Meeting (FTDM) is held. 
3. Caseworkers may offer services to families with a moderately high SDMRA score. 
4. Caseworkers must not offer services to families when observable, verifiable, and describable changes have been made within the family that reduce the identified risk in the SDMRA, unless a safety threat exists. 

Forms

Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment DCYF 16-208 (Located in the Forms repository on the DCYF intranet)

Resources

Child Protective Services Family Assessment Response (FAR) policy

Child Protection Teams (CPT) policy

CPS Service Delivery policy

Family Team Decision Meeting (FTDM) policy

Structured Decision Making Risk Assessment procedures (Located in the DCYF Policies & Rules Office SharePoint) 

Original Date:  October 22, 2007

Revised Date:  July 1, 2024

Review Date:   July 31, 2028

Approved by:  Natalie Green, Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare Division