Child Welfare and Fathers

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

Fathers and Initial Assessment and Investigation

Fathers have, traditionally, not been as involved in child welfare case planning as mothers. Worker bias regarding father involvement appears to be the most widely researched barrier to fathers' participation in child welfare case planning. One study found that caseworkers did not pay attention to birth fathers to the degree that they did to birth mothers. At the same time, the fathers did not respond to outreach efforts as well as mothers, which testifies to the need to approach fathers with an understanding of their unique needs and feelings. At least in this one study, caseworkers were found to require that fathers demonstrate their connection to the child whereas the mothers' connection was taken for granted. Of course, characteristics of fathers who do not live with their children also can contribute to the difficulties in successfully engaging fathers - incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse, to name a few.

Certainly the safety of the child and family is the most important goal of child protection. Not all fathers should be included in the child protective services (CPS) case plan. When a father has been the perpetrator of abuse, and the conclusion is reached that working with the father can promote neither safety nor permanence for the child, then the caseworker's focus must remain with other members of the family. This conclusion, however, must be reached only after the family assessment is complete - it cannot be assumed. How to involve fathers effectively in the initial assessment process is the focus of this chapter.

Understanding One's Own Biases

Everyone's views regarding fatherhood are likely to be colored by their own experience with their fathers, and, with caseworkers, perhaps by their clinical experience. Simply put, it is impossible to be without biases and preconceptions about fathers. For any professional working with men, especially caseworkers in the very difficult and emotionally charged realm of child protective services, it is important to recognize and understand one's own biases and preconceptions.

To work successfully with fathers, caseworkers must know what their own biases and preconceptions are about fatherhood and fathers. Once caseworkers understand these, they can more readily do a self-check throughout the case to ensure that these biases are not affecting their view of the families with whom they work.

Fathers and the Assessment Process

Fathers, whether or not they are the perpetrator of the child maltreatment, must play an important part in the initial assessment or investigation process. This includes fathers who do not live with their children.

Initial CPS Assessment or Investigation

As described in Child Protective Services: A Guide for Caseworkers, the purpose of the initial assessment or investigation is:

...to gather and analyze information in response to CPS reports, to interpret the agency's role to the children and families, and to determine which families will benefit from further agency intervention. After interviewing all parties and gathering all relevant information, CPS caseworkers must determine whether maltreatment has occurred and can be substantiated. In most States, CPS staff are mandated by law to determine whether the report is substantiated or founded (meaning that credible evidence indicates that abuse or neglect has occurred) or whether the report is unsubstantiated or unfounded (meaning that there is a lack of credible evidence to substantiate child maltreatment - but does not mean it did not necessarily occur). Depending on State law, CPS agencies usually have up to 30, 60, or 90 days after receiving the report to complete the initial assessment or investigation. A major part of the initial assessment or investigation includes determining whether there is a risk or likelihood of maltreatment occurring in the future and whether the child is safe (not at risk of imminent, serious harm). In addition, CPS caseworkers must decide whether ongoing services to reduce risk and assure safety should be provided by the CPS agency or other community partners.

If the father of the child does not live in the home, the caseworker should find out where the father is. Whether in the home or not, the caseworker should also:

• Understand what type of relationship the father has with his child and the family.
• Learn about how the father of the child fits into the current family dynamics.
• Understand what role the father plays either in contributing to the circumstances that led to maltreatment or in helping to protect the child from further maltreatment.

An assessment or investigation cannot be considered complete until these issues are addressed and understood to the fullest extent possible.

The first decision point in the assessment process is substantiating that maltreatment actually occurred. The second decision point is assessing risk. Risk assessment involves evaluating the child and family's situation to identify and weigh the risk factors, family strengths, and resources, and agency and community services. Assessing risk involves gathering information in four key domains: the maltreatment itself, the child, caregivers, and family functioning.

Fathers clearly need to be interviewed as part of the assessment or investigation. This is recommended whether the father is living with the child or not. The reasons why it is important to interview fathers who live outside the home include the following:

• The father is significant to the child, whether the father is actively involved in the child's life or not.
• The nonresidential father has an important impact on the dynamics of the family.
• If placement outside of the home should be necessary, the biological father may prove to be a suitable placement.
• The nonresidential father may play a role in ameliorating the circumstances that led to the abuse.

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.