Appropriate placement matching begins before the child enters out-of-home care. When a child cannot safely stay with a parent, the most suitable placement is determined through a Comprehensive Placement Assessment (CPA), which evaluates the level of care needed.
The Child Protective Investigator (CPI) completes the initial CPA at the time of removal. The Case Manager completes additional CPAs when a new level of care is needed – for example, after a placement disruption from a relative with no other relative placement options. In those situations, the CPA and a Multidisciplinary (MDT) Staffing is completed for the team to consider all factors and determine the new level of care. By assessing the child’s needs and preferences, Child Welfare Professionals can make the BEST possible placement match for the child.
Factors that MUST be considered for placement: | ||
Age Alleged type of abuse, neglect, or abandonment Gender Sibling status | Special physical, educational, or developmental needs Sexual orientation Gender expression | Community ties School placement Ability for potential caregivers to meet the child’s needs |
The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994 and the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996, P.L. 104-188, require that decisions on where to place a child must not be influenced by the race, color, or national origin for both the child and caregiver.
A child-placing agency has an obligation to place each child in the most suitable setting according to that child’s individual needs, taking into account the child’s school stability and the caregiver’s capacity to meet the child’s needs, and the needs of any other children already placed in that setting.
In determining the best placement setting, assess if the child has any:
CPAs do not determine if the child should be placed with a specific individual – for example, it helps determine if the child can be in a relative/non-relative setting but does not determine if a specific relative/non-relative is appropriate. The Unified Home Study is used to assess if an identified individual has the ability to safely care for and meet the identified needs of the child.
